What to Look for in a Computer? Best Tips

Are you planning to buy a computer?

If your answer is yes, then you are at the right place.

Buying a computer isn’t difficult, but it might be a little confusing for the inexperienced.

If we compare it with a laptop, buying a desktop is much easier than you think. There are a few essential components like Processor, RAM, keyboard, and storage you should know before buying a computer, and it will help you choose the best model for your specific budget.

A powerful PC can be used for different purposes like entertainment or a source of income. After reading this article, you will know the essential things you should look for while buying a computer.

14 Factors to Consider When Buying a Computer

Your Budget

Budget is one of the standard and crucial questions every shopkeeper will ask: What is your budget for buying a computer?

There are a lot of other things also equally crucial as budget. Let me give you an example; you are looking to buy a computer because, for office work like writing documents and attending meetings, you will buy a high-end PC, it will be a complete waste of money, right?

If you plan to buy a desktop or laptop, the price range will be $270 to $1500 for the best one. However, It depends on how much the buyer can afford to spend on a computer.

Computer Brands

Many computer brands are available in the market; only a few brands, like HP, Lenovo, Dell, ASUS, and Apple, are best trusted by customers.

Dell is one of the premium computer brands on the market, manufacturing simple and powerful machines. Dell computers can handle high-performance tasks; if you buy your PC direct from official sites, you can customize it according to your need, but it is pretty expensive.

One thing I like about dell is that they have low-end and high-end computers. You can choose a PC per your requirement, and the price range will be around $350 to $4000.

HP is one of the oldest and most well-known brands globally, and the company builds quality laptops and desktops at a reasonable price. It is used for professional work such as streaming, playing games, programming, etc.

Apple builds the most powerful premium computers, smartphones, and laptops globally. Apple computer has the best design, and you will find a logo on the backside of the computer; the user base is simple and easy to understand. Apple builds the best computers, but not everyone can afford to spend that much on a computer.

Lenovo is one of my favorite computer brands. If you want a mid-range computer with the latest features and premium design, you should go for Lenovo. Price is also reasonable so that everyone can afford the cost.

ASUS, Acer, MSI, Razer Blade, etc., are also provided with Laptops and PCs at reasonable prices.

CPU-of-a-Laptop-or-PC

Best Processors for Computers (Intel, AMD)

Selecting a CPU is one of the crucial parts when looking for a computer to buy. Everything depends on your requirement; if you run intense tasks like gaming, video editing, and streaming, a regular CPU can’t handle the load, so you need a high-end CPU like 12th Gen Intel Core i7 and i9 or a Ryzen 7, 9 6900H.

Here you have two choices to make AMD and Intel; both are the best performance chips on the market.

AMD Ryzen

AMD is cheaper than the Intel processor. Ryzen 5 is a mid-range hybrid chip, and if you are looking for a low-cost CPU that can handle high-end games, 1080P video editing, and programming, you should go with this chip; the price will be around $200 to $300.

Intel Core

Intel chips are higher priced than AMD, but it is the best chip on the market on a performance basis. The latest 12th Gen Alder lake Intel Core i7 and i9 chips can handle tasks such as 4K video editing, coding, and apps that regular chips can’t run.

Now in this hybrid chip, the power efficiency and performance core have improved, sustaining much longer than the previous version.

GPU of Laptop or PC

Graphics Card (Integrated vs. Dedicated)

Graphics cards are also essential components for looking for a computer to buy.

There are two types of graphics cards-

  1. Integrated
  2. Dedicated

 Integrated graphics are cheap and are mounted on your computer’s motherboard. Most companies provide integrated graphics cards if you buy a low-end or mid-end computer.

Dedicated graphics cards are expensive. This graphics card is installed separately and is mainly used on desktops. It can handle heavy tasks such as gaming, 4K video editing, programming, 3d Rendering, etc.

Computer Software 

Most computers come with different types of software, such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Note Pad, Google Chrome, and Internet Explorer. This software comes with a new computer free of cost.

After buying a computer first thing you should do is install an antivirus. It will protect your system and prevent any virus attacks. You have to install it separately, and hundreds of brands are available, but only a few are reliable such as Bitdefender, Norton, WEBROOT, etc. It will cost you around $10 to $20.

Power Supply

PSU is another crucial part of the PC; while looking for the power supply, you should choose carefully because a small mistake can make your computer freeze or reset; a better power supply also provides better performance.

Check out the tool Newegg’s power supply calculator, and It will help you decide what power supply range your computer requires. Many brands are available; Corsair and XPG Core reactors have good quality and the cheapest power supply units.

Ports and Connectivity 

Each cabinet is built in a structure with 4 to 6 ports on the back, 2 USB ports, and a 3.1 mm audio jack available in the front of the cabinet; for more USB ports, you must purchase a USB Extension card. Most monitors come with an inbuilt speaker, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. The minimum speed of the Wi-Fi should be 801.11AC.

Monitor Size and Type     

It comes in various sizes, 16 inches display to 30 inches display or more. The monitor size depends on your requirement, and different types of monitors are available in the market. If you plan to buy a professional monitor, go for Lenovo because it is the best monitor, and the price is slightly lower than other brands.

There are three types of monitors available on the market, CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), LED (light-emitting diodes), and an LCD (liquid crystal display). LED screens are way better than LCD screens. LED monitors are the best on the market and have good color grading systems, and The price range will be $150 to $350.

CD & DVD Drives   

Nowadays, nobody uses CDs and DVDs, but most people prefer pen drives because they are more convenient and have more storage than CDs or DVDs. Companies provide a CD or DVD drive with a new computer.

Usability

People buy computers mainly for two reasons do basic tasks or professional work. If you want to buy a PC for basic tasks such as internet surfing, attending classes, and office meetings, you should avoid sales pitches because they will lure you into buying expensive computer models that are entirely a waste of your money. As per your requirement, a mid-range computer will satisfy your needs.

If you want to buy a computer for professional work like video editing, programming, playing high-end games, or streaming. You require a powerful computer like an iMac or Dell Inspiron model to handle these intense tasks.

If we compare laptops with desktops, there is little difference between them. Laptops are more convenient because you can take them anywhere per your requirement. You can upgrade your desktops as per your requirement, but with notebooks, this option is not available.

Operating System

Windows Most people prefer to use windows compared to other operating systems. Also, Most windows operating system comes in different types, such as Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education. Most companies provide Windows 10 operating system when you purchase a new computer. You can buy it from stores if you want to upgrade your system.

macOS

macOS is the second most used operating system. It is much faster than Windows and has the same user interface as Apple smartphones. I like the mac interface, but it is so expensive. The price range will be around $1000; I’m not too fond that mac is no option for customization.

Chrome OS

Past few years, Chrome OS users have been growing rapidly. This system is developed for those who spend most of their time on the web to get a secure, faster, simple, and better experience. It is an open source-operating system anyone can download for free cost.

You can use a few Android apps available on the chrome book, which also supports Linux applications.

There are a few things I don’t like about Chrome OS you can’t use third-party apps and can’t play high-end games in this operating system.

Linux

Linux is one of the most reliable and secure operating systems globally. You may not know this, but this software, such as smartphones, operates on almost every device because Linux, refrigerators, cars, television, etc., develop by Android. Like Chrome OS, you can also use a few apps on the Linux store.

Peripherals

Keyboard and mouse you have to purchase separately because only laptops come with an inbuilt keyboard and mouse. The keyboard also has different types. The price range will be a minimum of $5 to $30.

What is the difference between SSD and HDD
The difference between SSD and HDD

Storage Capacity and Speed (SSD vs. HDD)

There are two storage options HDD (hard disk drive) and SSD (solid-state drive). HDDs use spinning magnetic discs as storage and SDDs flash memory like smartphones.

Storage capacity depends on your requirement. SSDs are much better than HDDs because SSDs are faster, lighter, more power-efficient, have speedier cooling rates, etc. It is cheaper than HDDs. Using the memory card and cloud storage, you can expand your computer’s storage capacity.

Warranty

All companies provide a minimum one-year warranty if you purchase a new laptop or PC, but some companies extend their warranty period if you pay for it. So, before signing any document related to the warranty, please read carefully because some terms and conditions need to be mentioned clearly.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What are the different types of RAM?

RAM is classified into three types: DRAM, SRAM, and NAND. DRAM is the most common type of RAM found in desktop and laptop computers. SRAM is commonly found in servers and high-end laptop computers. NAND is found in smartphones and tablets.

Q: What is the difference between a laptop and a desktop computer?

A laptop computer is a smaller and lighter computer than a desktop computer. They are also popular because they are portable and can be taken anywhere. A desktop computer is larger and more powerful than a laptop computer. Furthermore, desktop computers are not portable.

Q: What are the different types of computers?

There are various types of computers, each with its capabilities and advantages. Desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, gaming computers, and desktop graphics cards are some of the most prevalent types of computers.


Final Words

In this article, I explain everything you should know when buying a computer. At first, this may sound a little confusing, but it becomes easier to understand as you step through it. You will choose the best computer for your budget.

After reading this article, we hope you have chosen a better computer. Let us know if you still have questions or would like to offer advice.


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