Purchasing a new or second-hand computer is a large investment for most people. Even were cost not an issue, simply buying the most expensive system might not give you what you want. So what should you look for? It's all about knowing what you need a computer for.
Computers literally come in all shapes and sizes, no longer just “beige boxes” although many computers still come that way. However, the looks of the machine are secondary even if important. First and foremost the technology that is included must be able to do what you want it to, at an acceptable level of performance, reliably and consistently.
Generally, the more expensive any given component, the better it will be. Even here, there can be traps for the unwary as some components work better together than others, but stick to the standard offerings from suppliers and there should be no problems.
The basic triumvirate to consider is processor, storage and memory. Processor speeds are measured in Ghz (Gigahertz), and the higher the better – but there are different types of processor even from the same manufacturer. More on processors next week. Storage is measured in either Gb (Gigabytes, where 1,000 Megabytpes makes Gigabyte) or Mb (Megabytes). 20Gb is small, 120Gb the norm for new computers, and 500Gb disks are available. Memory comes in a confusing array of types and sizes, but what you want is the collective amount installed to the system – measured in Mb (Megabytes again), the more the better but you'll want at the very least 256Mb for Windows, with 512Mb highly recommended.
Besides the triumvirate, you may want to consider the graphics card. Many systems have video built onto the motherboard, but this is quite often not powerful enough or not compatible with current computer games. So if you intend to play games, or if you intend to do any graphics-intensive work such as video editing, invest in a good graphics card which you'll see in one of the expansion slots of the computer. Here, a quick and dirty rule of thumb is the more memory of its own the graphics card has, the better it is. Look for 64Mb or more.
What else? How about connectivity – the ways and means of connecting 'things' to the computer. Do you need a network card (fine as part of the motherboard). Do you need USB ports eg. for cameras, printers etc. (and if so, would they be more convenient on the front of the computer rather than the back)? Do you need older-style parallel and/or serial ports for printers and external modems respectively? How about firewire for camcorders or external hard disks?
Sound is a fairly essential component on a computer – as with graphics cards, though, do you just need standard quality (eg. music through computer speakers, or internet-phone-calls through a headset), or do you want to pay extra for high quality surround-sound to connect to dedicated speaker systems or your home stereo system?
Finally, consider items such as the CD or DVD drive – do you need to create them, or just read them? A CD drive at least is essential for installing software, but a DVD drive is recommended.
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