If you are working on the Internet or even if your job entails being in front of a computer on a daily basis, then you know that your desktop is an important asset to the way you make your living. With that being said --what exactly are some of things to consider when buying a computer?
First, you should consider the 3 "Ps" -- power supply, processor and price, then your operating system and ram.
Power Supply
I know it may seem strange for many to hear someone advise you about, of all things, your computer's power supply, but your power supply is important. Your power supply is the heart of your PC system, supplying the electrical power to every component in your system. In fact, without enough power you'll not have much success at running your peripherals. When you add another hard drive (add 25 watts max), CD drive (add 20 watts max), or even when you add something to your motherboard, it will increase the strain on your power supply.
Thus, if the power supply is not adequate, and your computer is running at peak capacity all the time, it can cause data corruption, random crashes, and complete computer failure (need a new computer). Remember, excess wattage on a power supply is safer than not having enough.
If you're planning on purchasing a new computer it is wise to keep in mind any additional peripherals that you may want to add to your system in the future. In most cases, 250 to 300 watts is adequate for normal uses. However, if you are doing road warrior type of work or into gaming and you're looking at purchasing an extreme PC or top-flight gaming system then 500+ and higher should be considered.
Things to consider when buying a power supply
1) Make sure power supply you are purchasing is compatible with system. If the power supply is not compatible, you may have a flaming torch in your room.
2) Keep in mind possible additional peripherals that you will add.
3) The purpose of buying the computer (gaming, etc)
WARNING: A computer power supply can hold an electrical charge for up to a week even when it has been shut down for a week. So have someone that is knowledgeable about electricity and computers-remove the old and put in the new power supply for you.
Processor
Every processor on the market can do the basics: such as web browsing, email, and can in fact, handle most tasks with ease. But for the power users wanting to upgrade their processor; take a close look at the DUO Core 2 -- that will give you the speed you need --it's like having two processors in one.
Tip: Vista operating system and it's many bells and whistles will run far smoother with at least a 800mHz microprocessor.
Operating System and Ram
At this moment and time, I would recommend Windows XP Professional for an operating system -- because it is a stable system with the bugs worked out. For either the XP Professional or XP Home Edition version you should have at least 512 MB DDR Ram to allow your operating system to run smoothly. If however, you are thinking about upgrading to the Vista operating system, 1 GB of Ram is suggested.
In addition, keep in mind the type of work you are doing, or will be doing with your computer, an adjust the ram to fit the bill. For instance, if you work on the Internet, work with multiple windows open at one time, or you're anticipating additional challenges down the road, move the memory up to 1GB if you can afford it. The 1GB of memory will allow you to run additional programs simultaneously, without jeopardizing your speed and performance level.
Tip 1: If you can finish a cup of coffee and your program is still loading -- you may need more memory.
Price
Since everyone's has a different budget, I will simply say, get the most computer you can get at the price you can afford. And remember; consider power supply, processor speed, and ram first, and then your peripherals. Why? It won't matter what peripherals you have if you don't have the power.
Hard Drive
The hard drive is another important factor to consider. If you have a small hard-drive and you want to do something like video editing -- you will be very hard pressed to getting it done. And since the new programs are getting larger and larger, more hard drive space is going to be gobbled up rather quickly.
For example, Microsoft recommends the minimum of a 20gb for computers to run the Vista Operating system. So if you are looking at the Vista Operating System, I'd get as large as a hard drive as I can -- with a hard drive minimum starting at 60 gb.
TIP 2: If your hard drive is half-full, don't be surprised to notice your information loading slower than usual. You'll be in need of a larger hard drive soon.
To conclude, when buying a computer always remember to take care of the 3 Ps, your operating system and ram. Then consider your wish list of peripherals, while keeping a close watch on your purse strings.
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