A computer is one of the most
important purchases you will make.
It's an investment of potentially a
thousand dollars or more, so you
want to make sure you do it right. A
computer has many different parts,
options and accessories, so two
machines are rarely identical. But
by following the simple tips in this
article, you can feel perfectly
confident that the computer you
purchase is just right for you.
It's hard to find a home these days
that doesn't have one or more
computers. There are a bewildering
number of decisions and hardware
options to be made when you purchase
a computer. How big should the hard
drive be? What size monitor should
you get? How much RAM? Should I get
a PC off-the-shelf or a custom
build? We'll try to keep it all
simple and easy, so you make the
right decisions and get the machine
that's perfect for you.
Step 1: Understanding
Don't be intimidated by all the
terminology that goes into
describing a PC and its various
hardware components. You only need
to know a few key concepts and terms
to shop like a computing pro.
Hardware and Software
Put simply, hardware is the
physical parts of the computer: the
case and everything inside it,
monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer,
etc. Software includes all the
programs on your PC or laptop, like
the operating system, word
processor, web browser, games, and
When shopping for a computer, most
of your efforts will be in
identifying and acquiring the proper
hardware. Hardware is integrated
into the system and can be difficult
and costly to upgrade or replace.
Getting new software is as simple as
buying the software and installing
it on your computer, typically by
just inserting a disk into your CD
You'll need a good combination of
both for your computer to reach its
The central processing unit
(CPU, or more commonly, just
"processor") is the brain of the
computer. More than anything, it
determines the computing speed of
your system. Processor speed is
measured in gigahertz (GHz), and
usually the higher the number the
faster your processor.
The hard drive is the bulk
storage device of the computer. All
your information—files, programs,
settings, etc.—reside on the hard
drive. Think of it as the giant
warehouse where a company stores all
Hard drive capacity is rated in
gigabytes (GB), usually in the
hundreds. The more GB's your hard
drive has, the more file storage you
have. Hard drives are now large
enough to store hundreds of
thousands, if not millions of files.
RAM (Random Access Memory)
RAM is a storage space independent
from the hard drive that keeps track
of what you are working on right
now. If the hard drive is a
warehouse, then RAM is the shipping
area where things are packaged up
and prepared for shipping.
RAM is measured in megabytes (MB)
and gigabytes (GB), with 1 GB being
about equal to 1,000 MB.
RAM is typically measured in
multiples of 128 MB: 128 MB, 256 MB,
512 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, etc. Like
processor speed, RAM helps determine
how fast your computer runs.
Unlike the processor, RAM is easily
upgradeable, meaning that if your
computer starts with 1 GB of RAM and
you decide later on you'd like 2 GB,
it is easily upgradeable. You should
be able to upgrade it fairly easily.
Many computers today use integrated
video which is built directly on the
motherboard, (on-board video). This
type video adapter is more than
adequate for your every-day
computing needs. A graphics card can
be added if more intense video is
Your graphics card, also called a
GPU or video card, is hardware
specifically designed to render
graphics (such as from a video game)
or videos for your computer.
Graphics cards also are rated in MB,
but the measurements vary
significantly across manufacturers;
a 128 MB card may be better than a
256 MB card, and two 256 MB cards
are rarely identical. The more
graphics-intensive you intend your
computer to be, the better the
graphics card you'll need.
The sound card is just what it
sounds like—it determines the
quality of your PC's audio output. A
good sound card is a must for people
who want to use their computer for
music, video, or games.
That said, you don't need to worry
too much about the various sound
cards when buying a computer; most
will perform the basic duties of
providing the necessary audio
Just as important are the speakers
for your system, both in terms of
quality and positioning.
These days, most computers come
with at least one DVD drive, which
can read both DVDs and CDs. While
some software still comes packaged
on CDs, most are written on DVDs, so
you'll need a DVD drive to use it.
If you want to be able to create
your own DVDs or CDs, you'll want a
DVD-RW (or CD-RW) drive, where the
"RW" stands for "read-write."
You also might want an extra drive,
in case one fails or if you want to
use multiple drives at once (such as
to listen to music from a CD while
playing a game on DVD).
A modem is required to connect
your computer to the Internet using
a dial-up connection. Many computers
today no longer included a modem. If
you are using a dial-up connection
check availability before you buy.
If you want broadband (high-speed)
Internet access, you'll need a DSL
or cable modem, either of which can
be rented from your Internet
You can also buy your own modem,
either wired or (especially if you
have a laptop) wireless.
You'll probably want a few other
important pieces of hardware
separate from the main computer.
Most are a matter of personal
preference and need, though a few
are required for proper use of your
Required equipment: mouse, keyboard,
Any off-the-shelf computer will at
least come with this basic
equipment, with the possible
exception of a monitor, which you
may have to buy separately or with
You'll probably want at least a
minimum of 17 inches for your
monitor; you can get larger and
thinner monitors for more money. Go
with what works for you and fits
Step 2: Determine
It should be obvious by
now that not all computers are
created equal. Which hardware
configuration will best meet your
computing needs? Something basic,
high-end or somewhere in between?
Would a laptop be better for you
than a PC? There are numerous
preliminary issues to clarify before
you start shopping.
First, you'll want to determine what
you plan to use your computer for.
These divisions are not hard and
fast, but should provide you with a
pretty good guideline.
Low-end: Word processing,
spreadsheets, web surfing, e-mail,
chatting, basic video and photo
Typical low-end specs: 2.0-2.5 GHz
processor, 150-200 GB hard drive,
512 MB RAM, 128 MB video card, at
least one CD/DVD drive (read-only or
Midrange: Above, plus some
3-D gaming, multimedia editing,
photo and video editing.
Typical midrange specs: 2.5-3.0 GHz
processor, 200-400 GB hard drive,
1-2 GB RAM, 256 MB video card, at
least one DVD/RW drive.
High-end: Above, plus
top-notch 3-D gaming, fast
processing, professional graphics
Typical high-end specs: 3.0+ GHz
processor, 400+ GB hard drive, 2+ GB
RAM, 256-512 MB video card, one or
two DVD/RW drives.
What kind of software are you going
to need? At the very least, you'll
need an operating system (the
underlying program that makes your
computer work), and you'll probably
want some basic applications for
tasks like word processing or
If you want to play a particular
game, make sure your computer can
Desktop vs. Laptop
Will you be wanting a desktop
machine, suitable for the home or
office, or a laptop, which you can
take anywhere? Desktops and laptops
share many of the same
characteristics and are, after all,
both computers, but each also has
its advantages and disadvantages:
Easier to upgrade.
Somewhat more powerful overall
(though laptops are closing the
Heavy and generally non-portable.
Bigger, requiring space to use
Lighter and more portable.
All-in-one package; you don't need
separate mouse, keyboard, monitor,
Poor ergonomics; people tend to
stoop over their machines and
smaller keyboard and monitor can be
more difficult to use.
Easily lost or stolen; don't leave
your laptop in your car, even if
Battery life can often be measured
in hours, requiring frequent
Difficult or impossible to upgrade.
May not include CD/DVD drives.
Finally, give a little thought
to your computer's operating system.
While whatever OS that comes with
your computer will accomplish nearly
all of your computing tasks just
fine, you might want to spend a
little time looking into your
If you buy an off-the-shelf PC,
you'll get the current Windows
system, Vista. Windows Vista has
been met with much skepticism. Until
the kinks in Vista are worked out,
you're probably better off with XP.
The only way now to buy a computer
with Windows XP is a custom build.
One other alternative OS is Linux,
an open-source OS that can run on a
PC. Linux's primary advantage is
that, as open-source software, it's
free. However, its adoption into the
desktop marketplace has been slow,
with the primary reasons quoted as
"application support, the quality of
peripheral support, and end user
support". If you're an advanced user
who enjoys a challenge, Linux may be
for you, but if not, you should
stick with Windows.
Step 3: Shop Around
Now that you've got a
pretty good idea of what you want to
buy, how should you go about buying
it? And, perhaps most importantly,
how much are you going to pay for
it? Are you going to choose an off
-the-shelf unit or a custom build.
Make a list of what you think you'll
need in terms of hardware and a
rough idea of what components (like
DVD drives, processor speed, RAM,
etc.) you'd like.
It's a good idea to set a budget,
but keep in mind that prices can
vary widely-- even on seemingly
similar systems or hardware. A
general guide is about $500-$800 for
a low-end computer, about
$800-$1,500 for a midrange computer,
and anywhere from $1,500 on up for a
high-end computer. This includes the
basics, like monitor, mouse,
keyboard, and speakers; printers and
other accessories may cost extra. As
with any shopping experience, watch
Don't be shy about asking for
advice, especially from
computer-savvy friends and family.
Store employees can also help, but
keep in mind that they're trying to
sell you something; take their
advice with a grain of salt. Calling
a local computer repair shop can
shed light on what brand computers
they see most frequently.
Once you know what you want and have
a rough idea of your price range, go
to a few stores and scan the
computer aisles for the best prices.
Even if you plan to buy on-line or
get a custom build, it's helpful to
browse a physical store for a while
to get an idea of what the computers
will look like and to see if you can
understand their features from the
descriptions. Take notes if you have
You may decide to choose a custom
build PC instead of one from a major
manufacturer. Custom build PC's are
generally higher in quality and
fairly equal in price.
Step 4: Make the
Now comes the moment of
truth: actually buying the computer.
As mentioned before, it's a big
investment, and not one you should
make lightly. Take one more look at
the budget you set. If you've
exceeded it by a ridiculous amount,
it might be wise to pare back some
of your computer's features.
Don't buy anything you don't need.
If your computer is part of a
package deal, you might be getting
hardware and software you don't
need. A custom build PC is designed
specifically for your needs without
extra software or hardware.
Don't forget the software! Any
computer will come with an operating
system, but you'll probably want
more that just that, like a basic
office package or games.
After you've browsed through
multiple stores—both physical and
on-line—and know exactly what you
want, make that purchase with
confidence! Once you get your
computer home, follow the
on how to hook everything up, power
on, and enjoy your new computer!
An advantage of having a PC custom
built is the computer will be
brought to you, setup, and any files
from your old computer are
transferred to your new system.
There, that wasn't so
bad, was it? Buying a computer is
like making any other major
purchase, like a house or a car. If
you do your homework, know exactly
what you need, and shop around for
the best deal, you'll find that it's
easy to get what you want with a
minimum of hassle and confusion.