Tech-Tips: Which Computer to Purchase?

Submitted by Tech Tip on Fri, 06/24/2011 - 09:33

The shiny one or the expensive one?

This is one of those questions which have tons of variables on both sides. Buying a new computer (or building one) can be an extremely enjoyable experience or the worst event in your life. Here’s a few tips to take with you to the store:

  • Gaming Rig: This is a computer which has immense processing power and a video card to match. If you’re buying this from a store, it could cost upwards to $2000 if you want a top of the line, state of the art, won’t-have-to-upgrade for months type of computer.
    • Key items to look for:
      • Decent amount of Hard Drive space
      • Fast Video Card
      • Maximum amount of Fast RAM
  • Office Workstation: Not much is going to be used on this machine besides programs for checking email and typing documents.
    • Key items to look for:
      • Decent amount of Hard Drive space
      • Fast Processor
      • Moderate amount of RAM
  • Student Computer: This would need to be all around as you never know what a student is going to do with their computer.
    • Key items to look for:
      • Fast Processor
      • Moderate amount of RAM
      • Moderately decent Video Card
      • Large amount of Hard Drive space
      • Mobility
  • Multimedia Machine: A machine like this should only be used for viewing/editing movies, listening/editing sound, or any other manner of artistic creations.
    • Key items to look for:
      • Fast Processor
      • Large amount of External Hard Drive space
      • High-end Video Card
      • Maximum amount of RAM

Unfortunately there are literally hundreds of combinations out there to choose from when you’re trying to decide on a new computer, laptop or workstation. It’s always best to do lots of research before you head out or take a friend with you who knows a lot about computers.

If they know as much as they think they know, they’ll tell you the same thing any techie would ask you: What do you want to do with it? Listen to music? Play games? Edit photos? Write stories? No matter what you plan on doing with it, there’s usually a cost-effective option out there for you.