What to look for when buying a New PC?
Greetings!
I am new around these parts, but not new to the scene. I have joined the Eye on Silicone team to blog here with Steve. I have known Stevie for years and we have worked on various websites together, along with become quite good friends along the way. So… nice to meet you! They call me Doc or The Doctor. But enough about me, on with the show!
So… are you pondering buying a new PC? Maybe building one on your own instead? Here are some things to consider before you pull out that credit card.
Contrary to what the ads on TV and in magazines would have you think, there really is no big difference between a major name brand computer and an off brand one. Not under the hood anyway. Most computer parts are really similar and sometimes all you are paying for is really a name. I have personally had cheaper parts work better and last longer than name brand ones! So don’t look at the name of the computer, look at what is under the hood. It can save you money and get you more machine.
I will go into detail on another blog post about building your own, which is much easier to do than most people think, but I will cover the basics of what to look for when buying a pre-assembled machine from the store. I will only be covering the basics to buying a PC though, as I have not had as much experience with a Mac as I would like. Though they are quite nice!
It all comes down to how you use PC actually. Are you a gamer? A programmer? Do you just want to listen to music and surf the web? Do you want to watch DVDs on it? All of these factors matter when looking at a new machine. While most new machines are pretty similar, there are differences.
Here is a quick list of things to look for when you are at the store on on a website looking at the new fancy machines…..
- How much RAM does it have? Some new machines will give you much less than you need. Windows Vista alone needs 2 gig of RAM to run smoothly. A lot of new computers come with a measly 512MB of RAM. Not good.
- What type of video card does it have? You would be amazed at how many new machines still use on-board video cards. While that is OK for someone that just surfs the web, a gamer will NOT be happy with that and lag when they try to play anything. If you want more eye candy, make sure the video card is decent and not an on-board card! A quick Google session can give you an idea of the newest cards out there. It WILL make a difference when you pop in that DVD to watch.
- Does it come with an operating system? If so… what does it have? Ask the sales person if you will get future upgrades. If they say yes, have them put it in writing. Buying a new Windows OS can get expensive. Almost as much as your new PC itself!
- Find out what the processor speed it. Is it dual or quad core? These days there is no real difference between Intel or AMD. But do try to get at least a dual core with x64 capability. You will thanks me for it in a few years as everything moves away from 32 bit software. 64 bit support is quite good now and getting better.
- If it comes with a monitor, look for dead pixels on the display. You will see them quite easily if you look at the screen up close. They will be either red, green, or black spots that do not change color as the images on the screen change. This indicates damage to the LCD cells and can only be repaired by the manufacturer.
- If you are considering a laptop, find out about the hard drive and RAM size. Some manufacturers do not make them easy to upgrade later if you got one that is too small for your needs.
- Find out about warranties. Ask what is covered. Do they have a return policy? A lot of places will not let you being someone back if it is damaged or not working. They will instead want you to use their very costly service and repair department.
- Find out exactly what all comes with it. Make sure you have everything to use it the minute you unpack your new system. It is no fun to have to drive back to the store because you need to buy a power cord that was not in the box.
- Internet capability! Depending on how you connect to the Internet, find out if it comes with what you need to get online. By this I mean a modem to dial in, a wireless card or ethernet card for broadband. Can be frustrating to get home and find out you cannot get online due to something missing! Not all new computers come with everything needed.
- MAKE SURE IT IS IN WRITING! Like auto sales, most stores will do and say almost anything to get you to make that purchase. They get commission for their sales and will push you to buy something you might not want. Take your time when deciding and get all promises in writing!
Good luck and happy shopping! Remember to take your time and research everything before you make that final purchase. It can save you a lot of trouble AND money later on down the road.
Be sure to check back for my blog on how to easily build your own machine! It can save you a bit of money and be fun to do as well!
The Doctor