What is so difficult about buying a new desktop computer? Is it knowing the difference between an i3 and an i7? Is it understanding how RAM affects performance? If all of this sounds like Greek to you, check out the article below to learn what you need to know about buying a new computer.

If you’re looking for a new desktop computer, try QVC, HSN and other home shopping networks. They offer monthly payment arrangements which allow you to get a computer home for a fraction of the price. Be careful when you are doing this, however, make sure the total price is reasonable.

If you are going to be doing some upgrades to your desktop computer be sure to ground yourself before you begin working on your computer. A simple jolt of static electricity can be more than enough to fry your motherboard. If you do not ground yourself, you will be putting your whole system at risk.

When buying a desktop computer, you need to know what you plan to use it for. Knowing what you’ll use the computer for is important, because it dictates how much storage space you may need, the kind of processing speed you need and the kind of monitor you need. When you know what you need to use the computer for, you’re going to find it easier to find what you need.

Try performing a boot check if your desktop is sluggish. Open “MS Config” in the Start menu. Here you can easily find out how many programs start running at boot up. See which ones you’ll rarely use and decide if you want the machine. This will expedite the speed of your operating system.

When choosing a desktop computer take into consideration what you will be using it for. If you will simply be using it for web access and word processing, then you can afford to go cheaper. If you will be gaming you’ll want a graphics card, and more RAM. The task you’ll be using it for will be important in deciding your price point.

Talk to friends and family about wanting a desktop computer. One or more of them might have been wanting to buy a new computer, and when you tell them, they have an incentive to do so. Take in old computers, which usually work well. A lot of people just have computers sitting around, so find out if your loved ones have a computer they are willing to give you.

Try to customize your purchase when ordering your computer. If you are ordering directly from the manufacturer, you should be able to upgrade individual components. For example, you should be able to get more storage space for a higher fee. You might be able to get a different video card by paying a bit more. Look into different companies to make sure you have this option.

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.

If you’re a gamer looking for a new desktop computer, check computer requirements on the games you want to play. That way, you’ll be sure to have the right computer for the games you are going to play. You can also check with gaming sites and forums to see which computers stand up best with regards to games.

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.

RAM, or memory, is basically how much muscle a computer has. It is also one of the cheapest and easiest upgrades you can ever hope to do. Sometimes, it’s cheaper to buy a system with a little bit of RAM and then upgrade up to a higher number by adding more RAM yourself.

Find out if there are any computer builders near you to get the exact machine you need. If you aren’t capable of building one yourself, you can always pay someone a little extra to get the job done for you. This will get you the perfect computer which matches your every requirement.

Most people have no idea what the difference is between a motherboard and a hard drive. In fact, they probably have never even seen the inside of a desktop computer before. You have taken the initiative to learn about shopping for a computer, and now you are prepared to get the job done right.

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