The author's case in brief
Hrnjicevic's argument rests on his own build history. His previous PC went through two CPUs and three GPUs before he sold it. Early last year he built a new one, started with an RX 6800 XT, and then moved to an RX 9070 XT after AMD's RX 9000 Series arrived. That GPU swap also forced a new power supply, because his 700W unit had no third PCIe power connector.
Now he says his Ryzen 7 7700 feels dated, even though he calls it perfectly adequate for the games he plays. He is already eyeing a next-generation X3D chip. He felt the same pull toward faster EXPO ULL memory kits when they appeared this year, despite having a 32GB 6000MHz CL36 kit.
His broader claims are these:
- Upgrade headroom costs money up front. Buyers skip the cheapest motherboard, overprovision the CPU for a future GPU, and spend an extra $20 to $30 on the PSU.
- A BIOS update doesn't fix everything. It can add support for newer CPUs, but it won't change an older board's PCIe generation or VRM quality.
- Unused headroom is wasted money. He says friends and relatives often ask for upgrade-friendly builds, then sell the whole machine years later without adding even RAM or storage.
- Upgrading also costs time. He counts research, benchmark comparisons and selling old parts for very little.
His conclusion is measured. Upgradeable PCs suit enthusiasts who like selective upgrades. Everyone else should treat a build as a finished project and consider selling the whole machine when it's time to move on.
What the essay gets right
The core point holds up: upgradeability only has value if you use it. Paying for a stronger board, PSU or CPU "just in case" is a bet. Those are anecdotes, not survey data, and the essay never quantifies how often people skip planned upgrades. But the decision rule is sensible. Buy for the workload you actually have, and treat future headroom as an option worth pricing rather than an obligation.
The power supply example shows how upgrades cascade. A GPU swap rarely stays a GPU swap. AMD's newsroom confirms the RX 9000 Series launched with board partner availability from March 6, 2025, and quotes an SEP of $599 for the RX 9070 XT. A card that fast can pull the PSU, cables and case airflow into the project.
One caution about the PSU story. The author's problem was a missing third PCIe power connector, not just wattage. AMD's specification page, which wasn't retrievable during research, lists a 304W typical board power and a 750W recommended minimum PSU for the 9070 XT. So wattage and connectors are separate checks. Before any GPU purchase, check both the card maker's requirements and what your specific PSU model provides.
Where the "just buy a mini PC" advice gets shaky
The essay offers compact systems as an alternative: the ASUS ROG NUC, Valve's Steam Machine and the Minisforum G1 Pro. It describes them as machines with semi-proprietary parts, designed to work as intended from day one and to be sold whole when the time comes. That framing needs a correction. Small does not mean sealed.
- ASUS ROG NUC. ASUS says the 2.5-liter chassis is designed for quick system access, so upgrades and cleaning are quick and easy is the gist of its marketing. ASUS's page also lists up to 64GB of dual-channel DDR5 and three M.2 PCIe slots. It is compact, but ASUS doesn't pitch it as closed to upgrades. What can be swapped depends on the model.
- Minisforum G1 Pro. The product page captured during research showed only a $1,039.90 price. It didn't provide enough detail to say how serviceable the GPU or other parts are. Check the exact configuration and service documentation before assuming either way.
- Valve Steam Machine. Reporting suggests it is partly upgradeable. OC3D reported that Valve's FAQ says the SSD (NVMe 2230 or 2280) and memory (DDR5 SODIMMs) are both accessible and upgradeable. TweakTown, citing a Gamers Nexus teardown, said the RAM and SSD can be upgraded but the GPU is fixed. PCWorld reports that the first units ship with a single 16GB DDR5-5600 SODIMM, leaving one slot empty, and that filling it needs fairly involved disassembly.
There is a wrinkle on warranty. One guide, from howtovideogame.com, says Valve's support material doesn't recommend opening the case and that any damage that results won't be covered under your product warranty. That conflicts with the "upgradable, Valve confirms" framing. I couldn't verify Valve's current documentation directly, so check the official support pages before you buy.
So the essay's mini PC pitch is closer to "mostly fixed CPU and GPU, replaceable RAM and storage." That is a real design difference from a tower, where the GPU, CPU and PSU are standard parts. But it isn't the same as an appliance.
A practical decision framework
"Upgradeable" covers very different things. Swapping an SSD or RAM is a different proposition from swapping a CPU, GPU, motherboard or PSU. Here is a simple way to sort buyers.
| Buyer type | What likely fits | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Tinkerer who enjoys swapping parts | Standard ATX or mini-ITX desktop | Upgrade FOMO and cascading costs like PSUs |
| Wants it finished and doesn't expect to touch it | Prebuilt or compact integrated system | Higher cost per unit of performance, fixed GPU and CPU |
| Unsure about future needs | Parts sized to current needs, on standard platforms | Overbuying "just in case" headroom |
The essay doesn't compare actual prices, so I won't claim that selling a whole system and buying another is cheaper than upgrading. Resale value, timing and the specific upgrade all swing that math. The author's point is only that people should run the numbers instead of assuming upgrades are the thrifty option.
Practical checklist before you buy
- Define "upgrade" for yourself. Is it RAM and storage, or CPU and GPU?
- Price the headroom. Put a dollar figure on the extra board, CPU and PSU spend, then ask how likely you are to use it.
- Check platform longevity. A BIOS update may add CPU support, but PCIe generation and VRM limits stay.
- Check PSU connectors, not just watts. Confirm the connector count and card requirements.
- Read the service manual for compact systems. Look at the exact model's documentation, plus any warranty terms on opening it.
- Judge by workload. "Two generations behind" isn't "obsolete" if the PC meets your resolution, frame rate and budget goals.
The bottom line
The essay is persuasive as a mood piece and weaker as a market guide. Its strongest advice is to stop treating upgradeability as free insurance and buy for what you'll actually do. Its weakest part is the suggestion that compact PCs are simply buy-and-replace appliances. The manufacturers and reporters covering them describe a patchwork of replaceable memory and storage, and fixed graphics and processors.
If you love tinkering, keep building. If you keep finding reasons to chase the next part when your current PC already does the job, the author's real lesson may be to stop shopping, not to change form factor.