| This article will walk you through the choices you | | | | summary of their choices here |
| need to make and provide guidance for what to | | | | Dell Monitor Link |
| choose. | | | | 4. Memory |
| In order to answer this question properly, you | | | | The most crucial factor in terms of computer |
| need to decide what type of user you are and | | | | performance is the amount of memory. When |
| what special needs you may have. Additionally, | | | | you buy computer memory, a minimum of a |
| you need to determine how much you want to | | | | gigabyte of high speed memory should be |
| spend and whether you would consider buying a | | | | selected to support today's demanding operating |
| used or refurbished computer. | | | | systems and programs. 2 gigabytes would be |
| General Guidelines | | | | even better. |
| As a general rule, my opinion is that one should | | | | If one is engaged in heavy duty graphics such as |
| get the most computer that they can afford | | | | CAD (Computer Aided Design) or 3D gaming, or if |
| without getting the actual top of the line. | | | | one is doing heavy database access or number |
| Computer technology changes rapidly and today's | | | | crunching, even more memory should be added. |
| super fast and capable computer rapidly becomes | | | | 5. Hard Drive Size |
| outdated. Unless you are interested in swapping | | | | Major manufacturers are offering drives with 250 |
| your computer frequently, getting a very capable | | | | Gigabytes of storage on their lowest end |
| current computer should hold you for at least a | | | | computers. This should be more than enough for |
| few years. | | | | most users. |
| The very top of the line computer demands a | | | | 6. CD and DVD burner |
| premium in price that is generally not worth it and | | | | Drives that read and write to CDs and DVDs are |
| one level below has at least 95% of the capability | | | | cheap and you should specify read and write for |
| of the top. | | | | both. Don't accept CD read/write and DVD read |
| If your budget doesn't allow for this solution, you | | | | only. |
| need to be aware of the tradeoffs in various | | | | Blue Ray and HD DVD disks can hold up to 50 |
| choices that you will have to make. | | | | gigabytes but the drives needed to use them are |
| Computer type selection | | | | much more expensive than standard DVD drives. |
| You should first decide if you want a laptop or | | | | Standard DVD drives will run around $50 while |
| desktop computer. I've discussed the issues at | | | | Blue Ray will cost around $600. |
| length in my article entitled Desktop or Laptop? | | | | 7. Video card |
| The main question is if you have the need to be | | | | The type of card that you get depends on the |
| mobile even though your computer will cost more | | | | type of activities that you are planning; |
| and possibly have less capability. | | | | 1. Basic user - word processing, internet browsing, |
| Depending on one's finances, you may opt for | | | | email and DVD movies |
| used computer or for a blowout special. Great | | | | The basic level card will suffice for this. It should |
| savings can be achieved by taking this route. | | | | have at least 128MB. 2 representative cards are |
| However, used computers present support | | | | the Nvidia 7300GT and ATI 1300XT. |
| challenges and the risk of early breakdown. Low | | | | 2. Vista Aero User or light gaming, rich media, and |
| priced bargain computers may be limited in | | | | general entertainment |
| ultimate capability and need to be carefully | | | | This capability requires mid level graphics power |
| evaluated. I hope to discuss these options in | | | | and a card with at least 256 MB of its own |
| greater detail in a future article. | | | | internal memory should be purchased. A sample |
| Heavy duty 3D gaming is a whole new world and | | | | card would be ATI HD2600XT |
| generally pushes current computer technology to | | | | 3. Edit and view photographs in brilliant color |
| the limits with top of the line powerful and | | | | A mid level card should be used for this. One |
| expensive units and is out of the scope of this | | | | example is the NVidia 8600GT, All cards from this |
| article. | | | | level and up should have at least 256 MB. |
| Component choices | | | | 4. Playback HD quality content |
| 1. Processor | | | | The card should have HDMI outputs to attach to |
| If money is not a pressing issue, single core | | | | external displays. 2 possibilities are Nvidia 8600gt |
| computers should not be purchased. Dual core | | | | or ATI HD2600XT. |
| processors are more powerful and, for most | | | | 5. 3D accelerated games in high definition player, |
| users, any dual core processor based computer | | | | CAD (Computer Aided Design), video editing or |
| should suffice for standard activities such as word | | | | high level graphic design |
| processing, email, browsing the web, watching | | | | 3D gaming makes the greatest demands on the |
| DVD's, doing one's finances and the vast majority | | | | computer's video systems and the sky is the limit |
| of other tasks. | | | | here. In general, the highest level card that your |
| If you need to do heavy database querying, | | | | system will accept will provide the most satisfying |
| complicated mathematical computations and | | | | experience. |
| number crunching or heavy encryption, you should | | | | The detailed options for each of these levels of |
| get one of the higher end processors. | | | | activity are described in my article Video Cards |
| 2. Operating system | | | | Demystified. |
| Assuming a Windows PC, the choices are | | | | 8. Sound and Speakers |
| between XP and Vista. Vista Service Pack 1 (a | | | | The standard sound card offered by most |
| set of fixes to the known problems of the | | | | manufacturers is fine. If you have special |
| operating system) has not yet been officially | | | | requirements, the major dealers describe the |
| released and the first service pack usually makes | | | | advantages of the various upgrade offerings. |
| a big difference. My opinion is that if there is a | | | | Speakers project the sound of your computer. |
| choice, Vista should be avoided until SP1 is officially | | | | Better speakers provide subwoofers and |
| released. | | | | different levels of surround sound. |
| If you are very familiar with XP and don't want | | | | 9. Keyboard and mouse |
| to struggle with learning a new operating system | | | | Connected or wireless versions are offered. Be |
| or you have a program that is not supported on | | | | sure to get an optical mouse. They are much |
| Vista yet, XP can do everything you need and | | | | more reliable than a trackball mouse. |
| you can request it worry free if your vendor | | | | 10. Media reader |
| allows for this option. | | | | These are usually listed as 15 in 1 or 13 in 1 card |
| If you select Vista, at a minimum you should not | | | | or media reader. This device allows you to directly |
| get Vista Home Basic but rather select Vista | | | | get data off of a number of devices such as |
| Home Premium. For maximum OS power, Vista | | | | digital cameras, personal digital assistants (PDAs) |
| Ultimate should be chosen. The detailed options | | | | and others. |
| for Vista are outlined in my article Which Vista | | | | 11. Modem |
| should I Use? | | | | If you want to send or receive faxes or connect |
| 3. Monitor | | | | to the internet via a phone line where high speed |
| A 17 inch monitor is probably the smallest that | | | | internet may not be available, you will need a |
| you should settle for. You can select larger ones if | | | | modem. |
| you so desire. Some monitors come with built in | | | | 12. Wireless network |
| speakers if that suits your needs. If you want | | | | If you plan to connect to a wireless network, you |
| your computer to double as an entertainment | | | | will need a wireless network card in your |
| center, you should consider purchasing a high | | | | computer. Standard network cards are built in. |
| definition or plasma monitor. Dell has an excellent | | | | Best of luck with your purchase. |