Computer buying guide & tips | How to read computer specs?
They all look same! Which one should I buy?
Hello everyone, it’s P&T. Today, we are going to help you to get the right computer for you. If you are a Person who is not interested in computer technology, or if you do not know what you are getting when you purchase a computer, this article will be helpful for you! When you go shopping for a computer, if you are not a computer savvy, probably, you will ask somebody at the store for recommendations. Some sales people are honest, and they do give you the best recommendations, but many sale people get commission on based on their sales. That means, many sales people will try to sell you.. instead of giving you the right recommendations, but if you know what you are getting, you can get the right computer while saving money! Here are the tips that can save you money!
Desktop? Laptop? or Tablet?
Desktop (Tower) Computer: Big, Best performance, Easy to upgrade, Big screen, No portability
Desktops have the best performance. It is the best choice for people who play games, watch movies, and who work in computer industry (Game developer, Graphic works, etc.) Very easy to upgrade, and you can also connect a big monitor, But it is hard for you to take it anywhere.
Laptop Computer: Portable, Good performance, Little bit heavy to carry, Hard to upgrade
Laptops have good performance, but slower than desktops. It is the best choice for people who need to use computer wherever they go. It is fine for casual gaming(Not for full-scale gaming), watching movie, and etc. Think of it as a portable desktop. (slower than desktops, but it is portable!) It is not easy to upgrade.
Tablet Computer: Best Portability, Acceptable performance, Small, Impossible to upgrade
Tablet computer is one of the best selling computer now days. You can work, play games, and watch movies just like you do on laptop computers. It is very easy to carry. You can also connect a keyboard when you need to type, but due to a small screen size, it is not recommended for people who work for long time with computer(eye fatigue). Modern tablet computers have good performance, but because of small size, many people use tablet as a secondary computer.
How to read computer specifications
Processor (CPU) – It stands for Central Processing Unit. It’s like a Brain. It calculates every mathematical things. Higher Hertz, more cores are better for performance, but usually consumes more power. There are two major CPU manufacturer: Intel & AMD.
RAM (Memory) – It provides space for your computer to read and write data to be accessed by the CPU. More RAM you have, you can run more programs without slowing down your computer. Typically, for internet browsing 4-8GB is enough. If you play games, or if you run heavy computer applications, go for 16GB or higher.
Hard Drive – It’s a storage. It’s a device that stores all of your data in a computer. (Bigger space = you can save more data) For most people, 500GB is enough, but if you want to store many movies, and pictures, go for 1TB or bigger.
Sound – Today, most computers are equipped with integrated sound chips, and they do produce decent sound quality, but you better buy a good sound card if you are an audiophile. There are both internal & external sound cards available for desktop and laptop computers.
Video – It’s a device that is responsible for graphics. Most computers have integrated video chips, and often an integrated video is ok for casual computing, but if you want to play serious 3D games, you will need a good video card. There are 2 major graphic chip manufactures. (nVidia & AMD) Unfortunately, it is impossible to install video card for laptops. So, when you are willing to play games on laptop, buy one with a good video chip.
Power Supply (For Desktop Only) – It’s a device that provides power to your computer. It is like a heart in your body. A power supply must provides a reliable power to a computer otherwise the computer won’t last long. For casual computing, 300W is often enough. Typically, for gaming or for performance, you need at least 500W power supply.
Conclusion
I just want to do Internet & e-mail: Tablet & Laptop (Price range:$200~$400)
I am a casual user: You can go with any budget desktop, laptop, or tablet. (Price range: $300~$500)
I am a casual gamer: If you are a casual gamer, you won’t need the best computer but you will need a good CPU, RAM, and a good Video card. You better go with a desktop, a laptop or a tablet that has a decent video chip. (Price range: $400~$800)
I watch movies: You just need to buy a budget computer with a good DVD drive and a Blu-Ray drive to watch movie. Or you can watch movies on Netflix without any DVD or Blue-Ray drive. Buy a desktop or laptop. A tablet is too small for watching movies.(Price range: $300~$600)
I always work using my computer: In this case, a better CPU, more RAM, and a bigger Hard Drive are better. You don’t need a good video card unless you do graphic work. Buy a high end desktop or a high end laptop. (Price range: $700~$1200)
I want to play latest games, and I don’t want any lag: You need the best computer. Don’t buy a tablet. Buy a desktop or a gaming laptop only for the best gaming experience. You need a fast CPU, more RAM, a bigger Hard drive, and a good video card.(Price range: $1000~$5000)
We hope this computer buying guide was helpful for you! 😀 😀 😀 Thank you and see you again!
