I have 3-year old Windows 8 Dell desktop. It sometime lags badly, such that sometimes I type and see the letters on the screen 10 or 15 seconds later. This usually happens when I've been online for an hour or more, never right after I turn it on. Poker tournaments run just fine, but I can get jammed up typing on these forums or on a spreadsheet. I used the cleanup tools on Avast and it was fine for a day or two, then right back to square one.

There is a shop where I have taken take the computer in for cleanup from time to time (but not for at least a year) and I'm wondering it just makes more financial sense to get a new one. Would it be better to get a new one just because it will be more powerful and efficient than what I have now?

A little more information: This computer would be mostly for poker playing and information storage. I'm not a gamer nor do I do anything else where great graphics matter. I couldn't care less about social media (except for a few friends and relatives on Facebook) and I don't store a bunch of songs, pictures, or videos. I'm a full-time poker player and my computer is a work tool.

All input is appreciated.

try wiping it clean and basically start it fresh. I play poker and do everything on a dell that has to be approaching the 7 to 9-year mark, the thing is still doing just fine

I ordered a new Dell on line today.

I wound up paying $290 (including shipping and tax) for a new Dell which has some things that my old one doesn't (for instance, more USB ports, more storage capacity and a DVD player.)

Warning: If you do the deal online by chat on dell.com, watch the numbers. In general the person was very helpful, but while I was watching numbers and specs roll by I noticed that a "subtotal" was larger than the full cost of the computer on the web page. It turned out that they were about to slip in a $50 warranty that wasn't listed anywhere, in chat or on the web page.

Re format it.
Maybe even run a defrag first which can sort out slow computers

May be upgrade the Ram too. It's not that expensive and easy to install

Pc's tend to go really slow eventually after about 4 or 5 years. Especially any bit with moving parts