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Ultimate Guide to Buying a PC: Tips and Tricks for Making the Right Choice

This article provides comprehensive guidance on purchasing a PC, including determining your needs, selecting the right style, brand considerations, processor choices, graphics options, RAM requirements, storage solutions, essential peripherals, operating systems, included software, and where to buy. Follow these tips to make an informed decision on buying the perfect computer for your needs.

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Ultimate Guide to Buying a PC: Tips and Tricks for Making the Right Choice

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  1. How to Buy a PC Choosing the Right Stuff 23 January 2013

  2. Determine Your Needs • General usage • Web & email • Office work • High powered applications • Image/Video/Audio editing • CAD/CAM • Gaming

  3. Select Computer Style • Tower • Larger • More configurable • Small desktop • Less space required • Limited expansion • Laptop • Portable

  4. Brand Choice • Major Brands (HP, Dell, Gateway….) • Reputation • Variety • Service • Availability • Local Brand (Whitebox) • Local Service • Complete customization

  5. Processor • Intel or AMD? • Relative cost • At least dual-core • Latest models cost more $$$ • Usually buy a couple steps down • Consider your computer’s purpose

  6. Graphics • Onboard • Cheaper • Less powerful • Generally can be replaced with board • Dedicated card • Lots of variety • Larger/faster video RAM • More outputs

  7. RAM • You can (almost) never have too much • XP – min 512MB, better at 1GB • Vista/Win7 – min 1GB, better at 2GB • Linux – min 512MB • OS X – min 1GB, better at 2+GB (?) • Laptops often take some RAM for video • Increased RAM costs more from maker • Consider adding RAM later

  8. Storage • Hard Drive • Estimate your needs – Double that! • Consider multiple drives • RAID • Separate programs and data • External backup • DVD/BlueRay • Get most current capability

  9. Media Reader • Adapter to read memory cards • Digital cameras • PDAs • Cell phones • MP3 players • Ensure your current media supported

  10. Keyboard & Mouse • Corded or Cordless • Extra functions on keyboard or mouse • Laptop – touchpad or pointing stick • Placement • Configurability • Tablet (ink) capability • Touch capability

  11. Display • LCD or CRT • LCD smaller, lighter, less electricity • CRT often preferred for high end graphics • Size – bigger is better • Wide screen 16:9 or standard 4:3 • Multiple Displays?

  12. Peripherals • Speakers • Printer • Scanner • USB hub

  13. Operating System • Windows • XP still available in some forms • Windows 7 most common • Home Premium • Professional • Ultimate • Linux • Available from some big brands • OS X – if you buy Mac

  14. Included Software • Trial versions often bundled • Office • AntiVirus • Media creation • Full versions available as options • May be better priced than retail • How much crapwareto delete?

  15. Where to Buy • Direct from manufacturer • Web or Physical store • Check “outlet” store for refurbs • Big Box stores • Variety of brands • Variety of models • Third party web vendors

  16. Homework • Select a computer to “buy” • Brand • Model • Features • Source • State your reasons • Price • Availability • Suitability

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