Tips for Buying Your PC
Buying a PC that's right for you and your family is not all that
simple task. More so if you're going to buy an unbranded or an
assembled one. But branded or not, you have to get you facts right
before you shell out your money.
First, why do you want to buy a PC?
Is it because almost every one has one these
days, or that you have the money to spare. If these are the reasons
are that you want to end up spending a lot of money on something
you're unlikely to use. But if your reasons are that you want it for
home based business, or for your kids for their education, or to
work at home, or that you want to surf the net, you are on the right
track. Now let's get down to specifics.
What do you need it for?
Take a piece of paper and write down what all you need to do with
the pc.
Spreadsheets, Word processing, Surfing the Web, sending e-mail,
playing games. Running multimedia, Watching movies, playing music
,CAD drawings, graphics designing, Web designing. Programming and
Online learning.
Make your list. Why?
Because different needs need Different PCs.
You really don't need the latest computer if all you're going to do
is browsing, no matter what the vendor tells you.
When you make your list be sure to look a little ahead and see what
all other things you might be using the computer for. For instance,
do you think you are likely to take up graphics designing? Or will
the kids start playing all those high-end games?
How much money do you want to spend?
Get hang of the money you can spend on the PC. Then you have to look
for the PC that suits your needs and your budget. This may need some
balancing even, if your requirements are huge and the budget isn't.
This will also decide if you should go for branded PC or an
assembled one.
Brand or assembled?
This is a question that has gone on for a while now. A year ago,
branded ones. We recommend that you go for a PC for which you can
get assured service and support.
What is it?
This is the part that has the computer's basic circuitry and
components. The processors, memory, BIOS, expansion slots, etc all
go on the motherboard.
What's available?
Right now you have two broad choices for a motherboard. The
motherboards for 64bit processors whether Intel chipset or AMD
compatible have the graphics and audio capabilities on to the board
itself, that's what they mean by integrated graphics and audio
onboard. In case you're looking for better graphics (say, you will
be moving to high-end games, or graphics, or CAD or need better
sound environmental audio, sound-editing), you'll have to get some
high-end video and audio cards. Which such a motherboard won't
support. You could, in such cards.
What to ask the vendor :
What are the upgrades possible on this motherboard ?
Which processors are supported?
How much are the upgrades going to cost?
Processor----What is it?
The brain of the PC. You don't always have to go for the fastest.
And just having a processor that's fast won't do. The rest of the
system has to keep up with it.
What's available?
Among the low-end ones available are Semptron, AMD XP 2800+ and P4 2
GHz, and now AMD'S 64bit power processors. They are available in
different clock speeds-go for the one you can afford. Among the
high-end processors are AMD's 64bit 3200+ XP and upcoming 64bit
Intel Processors.
Also remember that a processor alone can't make the PC zip. For
instance, A P4 on an 845 motherboard that doesn't have much graphics
capability isn't of much use.
How much do you need?
If you are going to work on office application like word processors
and spreadsheets, and some browsing, a Semptron, AMD XP 2800+ and P4
2 GHz would do. For work that needs more processing power you have
to go for 64bit processors like AMD's 64bit 3200+ XP and more.
Hard Disk---What is it?
This is the place where all your program and data will b stored on
the PC. Your PC's performance will depend upon the rate at which
your hard disk can read data and give it to the other parts. The
speed of a hard disk is measured in rpm. These days most hard disks
come with a speed of 7200 rpm. And some other available in hard disk
20GB, 40GB, 80 GB, and for more on how to take care of your hard
disk, check out The Hard Disk Guide at
http://thepcyoubuy.com/01042004.htm
How much do you need?
Most PCs now come with 80 GB of hard disk space. With fat OSs and
fatter office suites and games, you'll need some bit of space. 80 GB
is quite common, now even 1000 GB doesn't raise eyebrows. So do take
those offers of GB's with a huge bag of salt.You could have a look
at SATA Hard Drives if you don't want to loose something in
unleashing PC power.
RAM---What is it?
The place where information is stored for a while so that the
processor doesn't have to keep hunting for it on the hard disk.
What's available?
The more you have the better it is. A lot of PCs still come with 128
MB RAM-we advise you to go for 512 MB at the very least. If you're a
gamer or into heavy graphics, you'll need more than 512 MB.
Nowadays, 400FSB DDR RAM is available for faster output.
Video RAM---What is it?
This is a card that carries out the processing for all that's
related to the display. You could have a fast processor, lots of ROM
and hard disk that keeps pace with it all. But if the display can't
match all this-the speed at which the things have got processed will
take ages to show up on screen. The card has its RAM- called video
RAM (VRAM).
What's available?
As we said earlier, some motherboards have this function inbuilt,
but others need you to have a graphics card for this. You get a
range of cards now.
How much do you need?
If you're into heavy gaming and graphics and CAD and 3D modeling,
you need to have a card with at least 64 MB VRAM, 128MB if you can
afford it. For other purpose, 32 MB VRAM is good enough.
All software comes on CDs. A lot of computers magazines that teach
you how to use computers come with CDs. So a CD-ROM drive is a must.
Now you have the option of going for CD-RW drives or even DVD
drives. And some vendors have the check to see PCs without them.
Higher X ratings-such as 48X, 52X for a CD drive doesn't mean that
the drive will run at blazing speeds. In fact for routine things
opening a CD tray, making a CD auto run-an 8X will do just fine. But
if you were to rip songs from your audio CDs to convert them into
MP3s you would need a faster drive.
A DVD drive is great if you are going to be watching a lot of movies
on your PC- but make sure video card and sound card and speakers
match up to it.
Go for a CD-RW DVD Combo drive if you are going to be burning a lot
of CDs-keeping backups, making MP3 CDs, and so on.
The basic PC:
For running productivity applications: word processors, spreadsheet,
presentations, Surfing. Using e-mail, using personal information
mangers. Play music and videos, some light games and multimedia CDs
Specs:
• Pentium IV 3000 MHz or higher clock / AMD XP 2400+ and higher
• 256 DDR MB RAM
• 15" color SVGA monitor
• 40GB ATA/66 hard disk with 7200 RPM
• On board video and sound
• 52x Combo Drive
• 101-keys Keyboard
• 3-button mouse
• 56 kbps modem
The high-end PC
For heavy gaming, graphics, multimedia creation, sound editing
Specs:
• AMD XP 64-bit 3200+ MHz or Intel 64-bit Processors
• 1024 MB DDR RAM
• 80 GB SATA hard disk 7200 RPM or more
• video card with 64 MB VRAM
• 52x DVD Combo Drive
• Multimedia Cordless keyboard
• On board sound (for those into sound editing and composing, a
high-end sound card like Creative SoundBlaster Live is needed)
• 19" monitor or Flat Panel or LCD
• Optical Scroll Mouse with precision function
• 56 Kbps modem or DSL Connection
Sound card and Speakers:
The sound card processes the sound that you hear on your PC. These
days sounds cards not only make multimedia application sound great,
they also let you compose record and edit your own music.
Monitor:
14" monitors are out. You can get in your some other type of the
monitor in 15", color monitor, 16 inches and 17 inches monitor are
available in the market. Nowadays LCD's and Flat Panel Displays are
very common.
PORTS
Ports are where you plug in peripherals. The mouse and keyboard go
into their respective ports. Serial ports take in modems. Parallel
ports take in printer, scanners, etc, There are now USB ports for
USB printers, scanners, digital cameras, etc. Now there are Fire
Wire ports t00-but these are useful for those into video-editing and
such tasks that need a lot of data to be transferred in a shot.
Keyboard and Mouse
There is a range of mice to choose from Look for one that you fell
comfortable working with. There are different types of keyboards.
Again look for one that doesn't require you to thump hard to type,
feels ergonomic. You could also go for devices go for devices that
have programmable buttons/keys.
Software
You need an operating system-the common one is of course, Windows
XP. Now the latest version of Windows for the home is Windows XP SP2
and Windows 2003. 64bit Windows XP will soon hit your doors for your
64bit processors.
You need an office suits, or at least programs that do word
processing, spreadsheets and presentations. You need a browser to
the Web, and an e-mail program. You'll also need an antivirus, some
system diagnostic tools, some graphics programs, and some useful
things like media players (to run your movies and play music), file
compression tools like WinZip. Then of course, there is a world of
games and multimedia titles to explore.
