How to buy the perfect PC

PCs have become a staple in every home. Without PCs, you will find it hard to stay connected and to even do the work required of you in school or in the office. With so much PC packages being shoved to our throat every time we go to department stores and computer shops, you’ll really get quite confused on what you really need and what PC package will fit your budget and lifestyle. To help you through this dilemma, here is a brief backgrounder of the parts of PCs that you should get to know.

Processor.

This is one of the three primary components of your PC. The processor is the part that determines how fast your computer process information. Intel is still the leading brand in processors but competitors such as American Micro Devices (AMD) are slowly catching up, offering cheaper alternative. In shopping for a processor, one should consider the following:

Clock speed – this will show the number of instructions that a computer can execute in a second. This usually comes after the brand name. Processors nowadays are already set at the gigahertz range.

Cache memory – this stores the data that were previously accessed. This simplifies the work of the computer as it would not take twice as long to access information already stored in memory bank. Without a cache memory, much of the work will fall on the RAM (Random Access Memory).

Operating temperature – some processors easily heats up. Before buying, make sure that you have asked about the operating temperature just in case you need to buy additional fans or put the computer in an air-conditioned room.

RAM (Random Access Memory).

RAM serves as the temporary memory of the PC, containing information that are needed for the computer and the programs to function. In addition to processors, RAM also determines the speed of the computer. The higher the RAM, the faster the computer is in accessing information and responding to commands.

Motherboard

This is where all the parts of the PC’s CPU (Central Processing Unit) are attached. Some motherboards already have videocards and soundcards embedded on it while others don’t. what is important however is to choose a motherboard that is compatible with your RAM and processor. Incompatibility of PC hardware can cause major problems and may even lead to the breakdown of your computer.

Hard drive.

This is the part where you store all the information in your PC. Picture a floppy disk with much much larger storing capacity. The hard drive serves as the permanent memory of your computer. Here you install all your programs and save all the documents that you need. It is also important that you buy a hard drive with really big capacity especially now when people are so used to storing multimedia files that may use up a lot of hard drive space.

Video cards

This is the part of the computer which determines the quality of the multimedia images that you will view. The higher the memory of the video card, the better is the picture quality and the colors. Also, video cards are also responsible for how fast multimedia images are accessed. This is especially needed if you use your computer for multimedia activities such as watching a movie or playing video games.

Should you go for Computer upgrades ?

The average life of a desktop computer can be anything between two years and five years. So do you really think your desktop is now in the category of ‘Old computers’? Are you seriously thinking about computer upgrades? You think you need a better RAM? Or a larger hard disk? Or perhaps you are not happy with the operating system and need to upgrade all your graphic and video cards too. The scenario is very common. We see the marketing companies launch new and improved versions of products we had been using up till now and a part of us craves to upgrade to that new and improved version. You feel obsolete inside out. In time if most of your friends upgrade their PCs, you feel obligated to invest in yours too.

But stop and think; do you really need computer upgrades when your computer seems to be working just fine, without any major hitches. And are you sure the upgrade will be compatible and add to the functioning of the computer and will not cause new errors because most of the times. A good working computer when upgraded starts conking because of the up gradation, as it may be incompatible with the old drives or the operating system. And upgrading a computer that runs poorly doesn’t really improve its functioning. Normally upgrading the memory of your computer is the most cost effective upgrade.

Before you decide to go for computer upgradesyou should do your own research. Find out the make and year of your computer and find out what other people on public discussion forums say about upgrading your particular model. If you feel you need to go for the upgrade, do save up all your data and take back ups properly so that in the case of any eventuality you have your dare safe.Hardware upgradation can sometimes leave you with a very unstable computer.

Before thinking of computer upgrades, have you tried cleaning up your system properly to speed it up? Many a times the dust slows the computer down and is responsible for keeping unnecessary heat trapped in side, which in turn slows or stops the system form working in its optimum condition. Overall cost of the upgrade should be substantially less than the cost of replacement. Rule of the thumb is if the total cost of your computer upgrades were costing you more than 50 % of the cost of the new computer, it would be wise to invest in a completely new computer instead of spending your time and money on upgrading the old one.

Companies and professionals that deal in computer repair and maintenance can provide a more objective solution to your upgrading dilemmas. They can check your system and tell you if upgrading it would be worth your while or you can do just as well without it. They may also suggest some hardware and software upgrades for better functionality and can let you know if your system will be able to maintain its stability and whether or not you will have compatibility issues. They can also get you better deals on prices. It is always best to go with professional advice for computer upgrades.