If you have the right information, then you can get a lot out of a desktop computer. If this is something you’re interested in, this article is here to help. Use what you’re about to learn so you can get all the experience you need to work with desktop computers.
Take an audit of your uses for a desktop computer before buying one. This is important so that you can really understand how much power you really need. More power means more money. If super powerful desktop won’t be of any real use to you, why shell out the additional funds?
Before you purchase a new desktop computer, make a list of all the things you want to use your computer for. Do you have a child who will need to do schoolwork or do you love to play games online? You will want to purchase a model that not only has the right software installed for your needs, but will also be fast enough to run the programs you enjoy using.
Consider what type of media you’ll want to play on your desktop computer. Do you have need of a Blu-ray player? Or is a DVD enough? Or maybe you tend to stream everything and have no need of any sort of optical drive. These will all factor in on the make you get and the price.
If you do photo or video work, you’ll want a desktop computer with at least four cores. Called quad-core, this desktop will give you a lot of multitasking ability. Your computer won’t stutter when you have multiple big programs open. This will save you a lot of frustration during your work sessions.
When it comes time to purchase a desktop computer, shop around. You may be surprised to find stores often have sales on computers, and sometimes, the computer you want will be at a much lower price at one store versus another store. You may even choose to look online to find which of your area stores are having sales.
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.
If you need a more powerful computer, look in areas listed as “gaming” or “entertainment” computers. These will have more RAM and faster processors which can handle these tasks. If you buy a computer listed as an “everyday” machine, you’ll find that it just doesn’t live up to your needs.
Many changes have occurred in the computer world, and now it is possible to get a desktop off-the-shelf for less money than a laptop. You can buy a desktop for around $400 in many stores. Be sure you get your machine from a reputable seller who will be available for support.
If you are aiming for longevity out of your desktop buy, don’t settle for the minimum specs offered. Those specs may be fine now, but in a year, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise. Your computer can become obsolete rather quickly if you aren’t careful. If money is a concern, even a small bump to your memory can be a big help.
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.
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.
Don’t consider a warranty when buying used. There aren’t many manufacturers that allow those warranties to be transferred during a sale. If you decide that a used computer purchase is for you, do so without considering the warranty as part of the deal or you may be disappointed.
Wait until the right time to buy a desktop computer. You probably already know when there are big yearly sales, so it is smart to wait until then before buying something, if you can. You’ll kick yourself if you see the computer you just bought on sale for hundreds of dollars left, so try to wait for sales.
Now that you’ve taken some time out to work with learning about desktop computers, you should know where to begin. Just take some time and be a little patient as you go along. You may want to print out this article so you can use it while you work on learning desktop computers.
