Monday, December 9, 2013

30+ Days of Christmas: #18 - Computer Buying Guide

Welcome back to the 2013 gift countdown.   This week is going to be a bit different.    This week, we'll be looking at broad categories, rather than a specific item.   Today, we'll look at computers.


I'd prefer to work with a general buying guide than to pick a specific machine for many reasons.  For one, sales and technology change.   For another, giving preference to one machine vs another is rather subjective.   On top of that, there are so many options that I could go with a different one and fill up the month.

So, today, we'll look at the option of desktops.  Tomorrow, we'll revisit the computer and look at portable options.  In this guide, I will have some simplifications.   The more tech savvy will notice this right away,.  The simplification is intended to give a base understanding, and not go too far over some heads.

When looking at a computer, there are a few considerations to keep in mind.   You want to look at who (or how many) user((s) there will be.  You'll want to consider what the user(s) will do with it.  You'll also want to consider the anticipated lifespan.   These things are important, as they determine whether you are getting a great deal, or something bound to disappoint. 

Computers can be purchased from retailers, or online, pre-built by companies like HP, Dell, and Gateway.   They can also be custom built.  Skylance Computer Services has custom built, and upgraded, desktops and servers for individuals and small businesses. 

There are advantages to both pre-assembled and custom-built computers.   Pre-assembled machines will (often) include the operating system.  Most often, this is Windows (currently 8 or possibly 7), though Mac OS is installed on Mac branded machines, and Linux is available as the operating system on some computers.   Your pre-built computer will generally come with some software (though it may be trial versions), and may include some peripherals.  While a keyboard and mouse are often included, monitors and printers are not always included in the cost.   Upgrading and expansion may be limited with these machines.   Dell, for instance, makes a quality out-of-the box- machine, but design the systems in a way that limits the ability to upgrade components - or limits the ones that may be compatible.    Custom built computers have the advantage of getting exactly what you want, with upgrade potential limited to your desires, needs and budget. 

As suggested earlier, it's important to look at the user, and needs  of a computer, before purchasing.     Weekly circulars show specials that may look like a great deal.  However, not everything is what it appears.   Intel's Celeron, and AMD's Sempron and E-Series processors are often included in the budget PC's.   these processors are low-cost, but are limited in capability.   A user that will turn on the computer, perhaps check email and do some light web browsing, with no other real use may find this adequate, though heavier users will find this quickly inadequate.   Gamers will find themselves handcuffed by these machines practically out of the gates. 

"How much memory is in it?"   This question is often asked, and very often is asked in an incorrect manner.   While memory is important to a computer, three features you want to check for are memory (RAM), hard drive, and CPU.   A simplification I give for what each one is, is as follows:

Hard Drive - measured in bytes (mega, giga or terabytes now).  This tells how much data your computer will store.   The higher the number, the more data stored.  Megabytes are 1 million, gigabytes one billion, and terabytes 1 trillion.

Memory (RAM) - measured in bytes, often gigabytes, but megabytes are still found.   DDR3 is most prevalent now, though DDR2 may still be found in some older machines.   This tells how many programs or applications will run together, without affecting your performance.   The higher the number, the greater your performance

Processor (CPU) - This is the Central Processing Unit of the computer.  Essentially this is the brain.  It is measured in hertz.   Presently, modern machines are measured in Gigahertz, and tend to be between 1.5 and 5.  Older machines may be found with sub Gigahertz speeds, but they are far less common anymore.  

This is just a simplification.  There are more factors to consider - How big is the power supply?   What type of networking  does it use?   What type of optical drive is included?  What motherboard does it use?

What will you use this for?  This is an important consideration.  An i7 with 16GB of RAM, 3TB hard drive, 128GB SSD boot drive, and GeForce Titan graphics card may be great for a gaming computer, but likely would be overkill to one that is being used for simple office work, and light browsing.  Likewise, a 2.2GHz i3 with a 250GB hard drive and 2 GB RAM may do fine for light work in the office, but will underperform for gaming. 

Choosing a CPU:Intel and AMD make the two CPUs on the market today.   Each has an "economy line" processor, and several improved product lines.  Intel has the i3, i5 & i7 lines, while AMD has the Phenom II and FX series.  In general, the higher the number, the better the processor.    Number of cores is a consideration, as well.   "Quad core", for instance, loosely translates to "four processors on one chip".   Again, this is a simplification, and some folks will say "It's a lot more than that", and they'll be right.  AMD often has an advantage on price, though Intel's similar processors score better on some benchmarks (especially games).

Choosing Memory:
This is perhaps more important than choosing your processor.   While increasing system memory will not speed up the computer's speed, it will allow for better performance, which will improve some of the apparent speed.   For a pre-configured system, you may want to check out memory capacity for the upgrade potential   Some motherboards have two, others four (or more) slots for adding memory.  Different motherboards allow for 4, 8, 32 or more GB of RAM to be installed.

Deciding on hard drive:
This may not be a huge concern, except for those who have large media collections.   Often, additional drive space may be added through internal or external drives.  One thing that is worth considering in choosing a drive is choosing a Solid State Drive (SSD) for the computer's boot drive.   SSD's do not have moving parts, like SATA (and previously IDE) drives.  These will not increase your computer's CPU speed, but will access operating system files much faster than a mechanical drive.

Should I buy or build?This is an important decision.   As indicated earlier, stock computers have an advantage of being built, and running fairly well out of the box.   Custom built computers offer a far greater degree of flexibility in components and expansion, but may come at a higher cost.   Skylance Computer Services will be glad to discuss options with you, and help you choose the decision which is right for your goals and budget.

Sound and graphics:Should you use the standard on-board graphics or audio?  Should you get additonal cards, or buy one with that already installed?    This is a tough question, that ultimately depends on your personal needs.    For some, onboard sound and video are more than adequate, while for gamers and graphic artists, higher end components are needed.

Should I bundle?This is a tough decision, sometimes.   It may depend on whether or not you have a monitor/printer already, how well it/they  work, and what is included with the bundle vs stand alone towers - or what monitors/printers are available separately.

Economical Value:
This is going to depend on a lot of variables.   This will depend on your needs, your budget, and your preferences.   A value level system that needs to be replaced within a year may not have a good value, while a $1,000 custom built system may have a high initial cost, but give a longer life, with proper care.  Your mileage may vary, and we would be glad to help in the decision making - or custom building - of your next system.


I hope this gives you a little bit of an idea on what's out there.   I know that this was fairly simplified.   If you have questions, please contact me directly, and we can discuss them.   Tomorrow, we'll look at portable options on computers.

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