To be honest, the case is still the original one, but almost every other part has since been replaced. Now, I’ve taken it back to the shop where I bought it 20 years ago and asked them to upgrade the motherboard, CPU, and memory - the last of the original parts.

So, is it still the same computer?

I also like that I can just keep replacing parts on an existing product rather than buying an entirely new device each time. That's exceedingly rare feature these days.

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[–] Bishma@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

I used to do a lot of building, modding, overclocking, etc. I can't tell you why, but I always associated the motherboard as "the computer." If I replace the CPU, RAM, cards, cooling, drives, case, etc it's the same computer. And if a take a mobo out and put it in another chassis, that's now "the computer" or, at that point, "the old computer."

I had one 3/4 tower case that lasted me from 486sx, all the way to Pentium 3 and I still miss it, but I wouldn't say it was the same computer. The same case sat next to Moss's desk on The IT Crowd, and I'd get a little nostalgic seeing it.

[–] d00ery@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

It's called the motherboard, so there's something in the name I think too.

[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 4 points 2 weeks ago

Because the motherboard defines it's capability.

[–] fishos@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

I feel the same. The motherboard determines what else you can fit in, like the chassis of a car. It determines the maximum GPU, CPU, ram, etc you can use.