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Buying a computer can be tricky, especially if you&#;re not familiar with computer terminology. Plus, computers are expensive, so when it comes to choosing the right machine, you want to make sure it will continue to meet your needs for years to come.
Hopefully our guide will make buying a computer a little easier by clarifying what some of the important specs mean, and how you can pick a machine to meet your specific requirements. Let&#;s get started.
Here&#;s a good place to start. Deciding on what you need for your computer setup, either laptop or desktop, will have an impact on the cost of your new machine now and in the future. As a general rule, a laptop with identical specs to a desktop will be more expensive, because laptops cram all their hardware into a much smaller space (a partial explanation as to why slim Apple products come at a premium price).
If you have no plans to move your computer, consider a desktop. You can save money and end up with a better performing machine. Desktops are also easier to customise and upgrade, which may prevent your computer from becoming outdated quickly. Do keep in mind that you will probably have to buy a monitor separately.
On the other hand, if you need a multi-purpose, transportable device, go for a laptop. There are cheap laptops on the market, which are perfect for those who rarely use anything more than a web browser and word processor.
Think of the computer&#;s processor like a brain &#; a computer with a strong processor will boot up in a flash, run programs no problem, and won&#;t keep you waiting. So how do you tell a strong processor from a weak processor?
In basic terms, processor specs are labeled in terms of the number of cores, and the speed (in GHz or gigahertz). The speed of the processor chip indicates how much data can be processed in a specific amount of time &#; the bigger the number, the better. The cores act as multipliers. For example, a 2GHz processor with a single-core is four times slower than a four-core 2GHz processor.
If you want a more advanced look at the processors in computers, check out CPU Benchmark. The site allows you to compare the CPU&#;s of multiple machines, so you can ensure you&#;re getting the best processor for you money.
Similar to the number of processor cores, RAM (Random Access Memory) affects a computer&#;s ability to run quickly and multitask.
RAM is usually measured in gigabytes, and the more you have, the better. A computer with more RAM is able store more information at hand, so won&#;t need to spend time trawling through the hard drive looking for data. RAM is especially important for those who tend to multitask. Lots of RAM will help your computer cope with running multiple programs at once, or having a ton of web browsers open simultaneously.
Not all RAM is created equally. RAM in one computer labeled DDR2-400 is going to be slower than RAM in another computer labeled DDR2-800. That last number shows how many millions of data transfers RAM can perform every second. So once again, the bigger the number, the better.
The hard drive is where the computer stores the majority of its data. When it comes to deciding which hard drive you need, consider how you plan to use your machine.
Ideal peripherals differ from person to person depending on their wants and needs. Some may need 8 USB ports, other may need a DVD drive. These days, machines with as few ports as possible have become popular &#; I guess that&#;s just one less hole to spill your coffee into!
Let&#;s have a look at the main peripherals you should consider.
USB: USB ports are really handy &#; they are the standard connection for mouses, keyboards, monitors, chargers, and external hard drives. If you plan to transfer a large amount of data via USB, go for a computer with a fast USB port (the modern USBs are called USB 3.0).
HDMI: If your new computer is going to be incorporated into your at-home entertainment set-up, you&#;ll need a HDMI output. HDMI outputs allow your computer to connect to modern TVs for both visual and audio purposes.
SD: If you work with photography, an SD slot is a simple way to transfer images from your camera onto your computer. You can purchase USB SD card readers if your machine doesn&#;t have an SD slot, so this isn&#;t a deal breaker.
Wondering which operating system to opt for? It&#;s usually best to stick with what you know. If you&#;ve heard of Linux, you&#;re probably already set on your operating system. If you haven&#;t, trust us, you don&#;t want it. Mac is a more basic operating system that offers an excellent user-experience, but if you like to mess around with your computer, you may prefer Windows.
If you want to read more about the benefits of both Mac and Windows operating systems, check out the following two blog posts: 10 Reasons Why PCs are Better than Macs, and 10 Reasons Why Macs are Better than PCs.
It can be tricky to compare the graphics card in one computer to that in another. If this is important to you, we suggest doing some comparative research on GPU Boss.
There are two buzzwords to be on the lookout for when it comes to graphics cards: &#;integrated&#; and &#;dedicated&#;. Integrated means the graphics card is built into the processor, which usually results in a low performing graphics card. Dedicated means the graphics card has its own memory and processor, which usually results in a high performing graphics card.
The latest games take up a huge amount of space, and require excellent graphics cards. If you do plan on using your machine to game, you&#;ll need to look into purchasing a truly powerful computer, with a large, fast hard drive and super strong processor.
Here are some things to consider:
Once you know how your needs translate into computer specs, be patient. Technology changes fast, so if you&#;re in the market for a new machine, look out for upcoming release dates. There&#;s no way you can guarantee you&#;re buying the latest and greatest, but a little research can ensure you take the plunge at the perfect time.
Also consider sales and promotions that are coming up in your local computer stores and online (that&#;s right &#; online shopping isn&#;t just for cheap shoes).
Lastly, know what you need and stick to it. Don&#;t fork out extra cash for a feature you&#;ll never use, no matter how convincing the salesperson is.
If you&#;d like help deciding on the perfect machine, or need your computer repaired, don&#;t hesitate to get in contact. We can also help with your home network setup. us on 553 166 or fill out the form on this page.
553 166or fill in our online enquiry form today to set up an appointment with a local computer technician
Contact us to discuss your requirements of PC Bar. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
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A new computer can be expensive, and like a car, it loses a lot of its value the moment you take it home.
There's a huge marketplace of used computers out there, which means you can potentially save money, but you should be aware of some common pitfalls before you buy your next used PC.
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It pays to understand a few rules of the road before you bring a used PC into your home or office.
Moore's Law is a rule of thumb in the computer industry that predicts computers double in performance about every two years. That's still roughly true, but the overall pace of personal computer innovation has slowed in the last decade. A computer from looks and performs roughly the same as a computer from .
But as you head further back in time, PCs start to show their age &#; the CPU will be noticeably more sluggish, the computer will lack USB-C connections for modern mobile devices, and the stock hard drive size will shrink to claustrophobic levels.
The bottom line is that computers more than about three years old will likely need to be replaced sooner &#; making them a bad investment.
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If you're getting a computer that's a few years old, it may be hard to know if you're getting a good value, especially if you don't stay current on computer tech.
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The single most critical component in a laptop is the battery, and an aging (and failing) battery is the most common reason why someone would sell their old laptop.
If you buy a used machine, test the battery right away: Make sure you can charge it to full, and then run the laptop until the battery dies. If you have time, repeat the test a second time. If you find that the battery can't hold a reasonable charge, you should probably return it for a refund, unless you can replace the battery inexpensively. Keep in mind that it might be hard to get a replacement battery for an older laptop.
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Can you trust a used computer's hard drive? Probably not &#; it might have malware installed, even if it appears to be wiped and ready for use. That's why it's a good idea to wipe the hard drive yourself before you start using a used or even refurbished computer.
You can find computers billed as both "used" and "refurbished." A refurbished laptop or desktop PC has been inspected to make sure it's working, comes with a warranty, and often has worn components replaced to return it to like-new condition. This is especially important for a laptop, which should have a new battery installed. Various manufacturers sell factory-refurbished computers from their own website &#; check out Apple, Dell, HP and Best Buy's Lenovo page, for example.
A used computer is just that &#; used. It's usually sold as-is and isn't backed with a warranty. While you're generally safer buying a refurb, a used PC might be okay as long as you can return it for a refund if anything is amiss &#; be sure to test it quickly and thoroughly after you buy it.
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Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.
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