PC of Theseus | Is this a new PC or the same one?
Posted by akshaysura@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 72 comments
So in 2019 I bought a PC, specs:
Ryzen 3 3600X
MSI B450 Tomahawk
GTX 1650 TI OC
2 x 8 GB DDR4 RAM
512GB SATA SSD
1TB HDD
Corsair 550W PSU
Cooler Master MB520
In 2021, Upgrades:
+ 2 x 8GB DDR4 RAM (Total 32GB)
In 2024, Upgrades:
-GTX 1650 TI OC
+RTX 5070TI
-Corsair 550W PSU
+Gigabyte 1000PSU
In 2025, Upgraded:
+2TB Nvme Gen 5 SSD
In 2026, Upgrads:
- Upgraded to DDR5(March) - Ryzen 3 3600X - MSI B450 Tomahawk - 4 x 8GB DDR4 RAM + Ryzen 7 7800X3D + MSI X860E Gaming Plus + 1 x 16 GB DDR5 RAM
- Upgraded Cabinet(April) - Cooler Master MB520 + Lian Li O11 Dynamic Mini V2
- Future Upgrade(May-June) + New 9 x ARGB Fans
- Future Upgrade(October) + 1 x 16GB DDR5 RAM
Now my question is : Is my PC a new PC. If yes, at what point you would consider it as a new pc?
Ub3ros@reddit
When you've changed both the motherboard and the CPU, it's a new PC in my books. If you've got either the old MB or CPU still in a new build, it's upgrades.
BitRunner64@reddit
I have the same AM4 motherboard that I bought in 2017.
I have changed: GPU (twice), CPU (twice), RAM, PSU, SSD and even the case.
Is it still the same PC as it was in 2017?
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
What if I only changed the processor to some AM4 model and kept the same mobo. It will be an upgrade but will it be considered a new build?
FrequentWay@reddit
Microsoft considers it a new PC if you swap out the motherboard if you have an OEM license.
Ub3ros@reddit
It's really up to you but i'd gaslight myself into thinking it's the same PC, just some part upgrades lmao
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
Same 🤣🤣🤣
My family members asked me why I am buying a new PC. I should save money. I brought out this PC of Theseus thing. Now they are quiet.
FellaVentura@reddit
Last time I bought a PC was in 2008.
Today I'm sporting a Ryzen7600x, 32GB RAM 1T NVME and a RTX3060TI
It is not the same...
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
Did you upgrade it part by part always or all at once at least one time since 2008
FellaVentura@reddit
If I recall, I upgraded the GFX a few months later to a 9600GT, then upgraded MB, CPU and PSU in 2012 to an i7, but I don't recall the exact specs but it was a quad channel MB with 16gb DDR3. Some time later a GTX 670 appeared. Later upgraded the GFX again to GTX1060 @ the year 2018. In 2022 I found a guy selling a PC with a GTX Titan and bought it for 200€. Used his card and PSU on my computer, then started upgrading to my current specs and finally switched everything to that other dude's PC case, a cooler master HAF XB EVO. Still using an SSD bought @2018 and a 3Tb HDD bought in 2012. My old PC still works but I sold the case.
PeytonWatson14@reddit
Yeah when you switch motherboards is when I consider it a new PC for me. If you just swapped one part each time, that’s an upgrade. But if you swap mobo, ram, and cpu. Yeah that’s a new pc, even if it’s in the same case imo.
But that’s why we buy PCs, upgradeable parts
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
I agree I added my POV in the post check it out and let me know what you think
PeytonWatson14@reddit
I agree. I think all of the stuff before the move to AM5 was upgrades. The move to AM5 was a new pc
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
To me the gpu and psu upgrade was made keeping in mind that after sometime I will upgrade my Processor and then mobo. But later I realised I had to changed Ram cpu and mobo together do to incompatibility with previous platform.
And with my old setup I was not even fully using my GPU and PSU so to me it was just old pc with 2 insane upgrades but with the DDR5 upgrade it the GPU and PSU actually makes sense in this build
PeytonWatson14@reddit
Yeah it needed to be done for the future upgrades. I’m sure you have a night and day difference from your old pc to the new pc
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
Haven’t player any games on on yet. I will play crimson desert tomorrow. The only problem I am worried about is that I doengraded ram from 32 gb to 16 gb. Lets see how it goes
SushiBump@reddit
If I had to draw a line in the sand, my take is that if ANY of the original hardware from the initial build/boot is still being used, then it's the same PC. The moment that last piece is replaced, it's something else.
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
So my current PC is an old pc not new pc as I have same storage. So if in future say for 5years I do no upgrade and then suddenly swapped a new storage. Will I only then be able to say I made a new pc. But in reality I only upgraded a storage after 5/10 years
ShredGuru@reddit
The MOBO switch is what pushes it over the line into new computer
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
umm So in the beginning of this year I had an issue with my AM4 MOBO, So I used a Gigabyte B550M DS3H v3. It was cheaper than my MSI Tomahawk one. I knew I was going to upgrade to DDR5 so swapped the motherboard for the time being. So that means I just made a new pc 2 twice this year?
9okm@reddit
That’s less a new PC and more just fixing a problem with current/similar hardware.
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
so today if I just install another motherboard which is better than this one. Will you consider it as a new PC? I stil have the same cabinet, ram, processor, cooler, psu and gpu. Even the same cable management
9okm@reddit
Sure
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
Why is the motherboard so special here? To me it would just be a part swap or upgrade. Why consider it a new PC
9okm@reddit
Just my opinion. This is arbitrary.
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
I added my POV in the post check it out let me know what you think
9okm@reddit
Makes sense to me. A new platform (motherboard/cpu/memory) combined with a new case definitely is enough to feel brand new.
A contributing factor to me is reinstalling the OS, which I always do when moving to a new motherboard. It’s not strictly necessary, but helps to avoid any driver conflicts or configuration woes.
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
This is my 3rd motherboard in this pc same os in that same old kingston SATA ssd i bought years ago🤣
9okm@reddit
No need to change the SSD itself if the health is still decent (check in crystaldiskinfo). But I’d do a fresh install when going to AM5.
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
As of know the windows is working fine the pc is stable so I am not touching anything with windows. I will check the ssd life I hope its not too low. I dont wanna spend any money of ssd currently the prices are too high for ssd
9okm@reddit
To each their own.
Bob4Not@reddit
Three generations of PCs haves passed through my case.
I define the “generation” as the CPU and motherboard combo
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
So answer my question bud. Is my PC a new PC. If yes, at what point you would consider it as a new pc?
Bob4Not@reddit
When you buy the new CPU, MoBo, and DDR5 then I think it’s new.
When you have enough parts to rebuild the old ship parts to make a new ship, you have two ships and the newest one gets a new name.
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
So currently I full-fill both the old parts can make a new pc I would just need a new ssd to install windows
aragorn18@reddit
It is your PC, and that is enough.
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
But is it a new pc or just an upgraded pc?
aragorn18@reddit
It is what it is.
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
Pick a side!!!!
aragorn18@reddit
Sometimes the winning move is to not play at all.
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
Sometimes… not this time
Y0S_H1L0TL25@reddit
It is a new PC with some Old Parts
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
When did it become a new pc?
Y0S_H1L0TL25@reddit
Probably at the MOBO swap, Since It got New RAM, And a New Cabinet
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
So I did 2 mobo swaps: 1 when old mobo died 2 upgrading to ddr5 (changed cpu and ram) 3 changing cabinet was a separate event
You are saying upgrading to ddr5 made me a new pc?
Y0S_H1L0TL25@reddit
Yesn’t, Because when you changed the Mobo, you esentia changed where the components Lie on your PC, then you changed the RAM and CPU, then the Case, so it‘s esentially a New PC with a Few leftover parts
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
I added my POV in the post check it out let me know what you think
Y0S_H1L0TL25@reddit
I’d say the CPU and MOBO changes were the turning point
JerryTzouga@reddit
It's like a Phoenix, the old one did and from its dust a new one came out
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
Yes but sometimes we just takes some organs out of the phionix and transplant new ones
9okm@reddit
New motherboard makes it a new PC for me.
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
I added my POV in the post check it out let me know what you think
Minus_Mouth@reddit
What if there actually is no PC at all
Ecstatic-Vermicelli2@reddit
Do PC's exist? What does it mean for something to exist? Do humans exist? What are we but a bunch of atoms in a certain location.
No_Spare1827@reddit
Schrodinger's PC we don't know if there is a pc until we open it up
Heroid12@reddit
probably new pc since u changed almost every component from the old pc
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
so when did it become new?
Em_Es_Judd@reddit
Mobo
Heroid12@reddit
Probably this year
Heroid12@reddit
This month
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
So this month when I changed the cabinet?
cdojs98@reddit
Yep, it's a new pc. Step 2-2026 was the breakover point.
When you replaced B450 with B550, nothing meaningfully changed. Same ram, cpu, storage - all the thinking parts remained unchanged.
I can best equate it to car terms. You started off with a basic commuter car. 2021 you upgraded the intake. 2024 you went big and added a turbo & colder spark plugs/coils. In 2025, you realized you needed a bigger fuel tank. In 2026S1, you threw a rod, but it was fixable with an aftermarket upgrade kit. In 2026S2, someone told you that you can engine swap this car easily and you did that, reusing some old parts like the turbo. In 2026S3 and S4, you've got plans to overhaul the subframe/chassis and interior. In 2026S5, you have plans to maybe upgrade the intake again.
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
I am sooo not a car guy. If I didn’t knew what I did I wouldn’t have understood what you meant🤣. Anyways… i agree with you changing to ddr5 was a very big change and I would consider it as a new pc with relatively new parts.
TortieMVH@reddit
I love your style.
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
You like my Upgrade plans🤣? Poor me had to improvise
TortieMVH@reddit
Gotta admire the foresight and patience. Keep it up💪
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
Much love!
FrequentWay@reddit
I would do that RAM upgrade while prices are kinda low as the market shifts due to OpenAI's purchase plans have been more letters of intent. It certainly has caused enough of an upheave as we will buy out all your RAM to we intend to buy out out all your RAM.
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
I am waiting for Sale to come in October then I would buy more ram 16 GB is workable but not enough for me.
ime1em@reddit
If you upgrade the motherboard to a new socket or upgrade cpu to faster, then I consider that new
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
That's fair
Frolock@reddit
In a way I’ve had the same PC since I bought a prebuilt Dell back in 2000. At this point though there are no parts that have stayed the same and I’ve probably replaced everything at least twice.
akshaysura@reddit (OP)
IMO, if you are changing everything at once OR atleast 3-4 main components(out of RAM, Processor, MOBO, GPU,Cabinet) then it should be considered as a new pc else it should not.
I am considering cabinet as main because that changes the whole look and personality. So has a bigger impact on what feels new