Teaching yourself about desktop computers with good information is something that can help you a lot. You may be someone who has one of these computers at home, or perhaps you work on one all day. Whatever the case may be you may want to learn a little about desktop computers before you use one again.
Consider the disk burning capabilities of any desktop computers that you are looking at. Consider whether you plan to just watch media or to make your own CDs and DVDs. If you plan on doing the latter, make sure sure the computer that you want supports it. Not all desktops come with these capabilities.
Look at all add-ons you are purchasing with the computer. Some computers have extra accessories available to purchase. Be sure to only purchase those that are necessary. Check for pricing online to see if you can get the items cheaper. If you buy them direct from manufacturers or at tech stores, they are normally sold at a premium.
Look at what is included for the servicing of your desktop computer. Check to see if there will be onsite service, or a technician that arrives at your location to do repairs for the duration of your warranty. Find out what you get if onsite is not offered, along with how long. Check to see if your machine can be serviced at a local service center. Also, look at the time frames for replacements, repairs, and if you receive a loaned computer in case the time frame is unacceptable.
Be very careful to check on the versions of software in any new desktop you buy, unless you want to be constantly updating it or replacing the operating system completely. Many good deals can be had on desktops that contain nearly obsolete software, which can complicate use later on. Make sure what you buy will be compatible online and for other purposes.
When buying a desktop computer with the intention of creating DVDs or CDs of your own, take care to verify that the model you are considering has an integrated disc burner. While most new versions will have this feature, failing to discover that a particular model does not can lead to great frustration. Try to save yourself the aggravation in advance.
Back up your desktop computer from time to time. Unfortunately, computers do crash and can take all of the data on the hard drive with them. Many times that data is important and it can be devastating to lose things like pictures, papers, or anything that you store on your computer.
If you want to run many programs at once, you’ll need at least 4GB of RAM. If you just want to do simple tasks, less than 4GB will be okay. Want to play video games? Look for 10GB and above to ensure your games aren’t lagged and hard to play.
How much hard drive space do you need? Look at the sizes available in terms of how many photos they can hold for an easy reference. A 500GB hard drive holds 100,000 photos, for example, or the equivalent of 38 hours of video or 125,000 MP3 songs, which is more than enough for most.
What you pay for a computer is going to have much to do with the timing of your purchase. You should definitely be taking advantage of the best sales and special deals. If it were something you buy all the time, it might be hard to make that happen. However, a computer is a less frequent purchase, so you should be able to time your purchase to finding an offer you can’t refuse.
What sort of internet connection will you be using? This is an important question to answer as you seek out a desktop as it has to have the right hardware to connect. Your options are typically wifi, ethernet or bluetooth, all of which require a special device to connect.
If you are buying used, make sure to check the computer first. Plug it in, turn it on and see if you can go online. Test the speed of the computer and make sure everything is working properly. Unless you have the patience and time to send the computer back and wait for a refund, do not buy used online.
When looking for a computer system, keep an eye out for what kind of graphics chipset it has. Cheaper systems tend to have video cards that are called on-board, or integrated. This means it is actually part of the motherboard. You are going to get far better video quality and gaming from a dedicated video card that is attached in a slot.
Now that you’re able to see what goes into working with desktop computers, you can feel confident the next time you have to work on one. Take your time and make sure you’re careful with these kinds of things so nothing gets broken. You’ll do just fine with the above tips in mind!
