Just buy high end shit every 5-8 years instead of getting mid range stuff every 2-3

>>54862912
I built my computer 4-5 years ago with mid-high end parts like the 3570k and GTX 680. It's still doing just fine for me, plus I don't even really play games anymore. Kinda pissed I bought a tiny SSD for so much instead of waiting though.

I agree with >>54862932, it's great advice as long as you're not an upgrade junkie.

>>54862971
>mid-high end
>3570k
Anyway, I'm still rocking my dual E5-2670 V2s and probably will for at least another 4 years.

>>54862912
whenever it starts not doing what I want it to do
currently running an E5507+Quadro 2000 my thinkstation shipped with, might add in something cheap like a 950 later down the road

>>54862912
>how often
Whenever I feel like it
>using now
Core2 Duo E8335
ATi Radeon 2600 Pro

i7 930 and a pair of GTX 680s here
might drop in an X5675, they're like $100 on ebay. GPUs later after AMDs stuff comes out and prices drop.

>>54862912
3-5 years

I like to use cheap and overlooked components like Xeons for each build, I take a 10% hit in performance, but I usually save 80% of the money I would have spent on the cpu and mobo and apply it towards the graphics card, by doing this and reusing the PSU and case, I can keep to a budget of about $500 that will rival $2000 builds.

>>54862912
5 years