Guide to Buying a New Computer… Again!

Like with everything else in life, one day you will face this dilemma. Yes, you knew when you had bought a new computer few years back that this moment will present itself but without proper guidance it can never be easy.

You get a new computer, and after less than 6 months, it seems close to the last junkie you got rid of or even worse than that, full of errors and problems; then you surely missed on to few things while finalizing the configuration. Through this guide I would try to make that decision easier to make so that you get a smooth computer experience for a long time to come. This guide is useful for users buying a completely new system as well as for those experienced fellows planning to upgrade.

The first and foremost thing to get out of the way is realizing that you need a new system.

Do you really need a new computer? (If you already have one)

Is your computer consistently falling down with errors? Does the system seem slow and applications take a long time to open? Have you considered formatting the hard disk and reinstalling the operating system (an alias of a new computer)? Look around, some of your friends or relatives must have recently got a new computer for themselves. However dumb they may be in the computer department, how cool is their configuration compared to yours? Does their amount of RAM or Hard Disk capacity make you feel jealous? You feel you deserve that configuration much more than they did and you have a better use of it than them! If all these are your regular experiences then it is probably time for you to start thinking of saving money for that special upgrade.

It is imperative for you to be aware of the general configuration that the local computer vendors are selling off. It will help you to analyze your own system. You should at least once try out a complete wipeout of your disk and give your computer a fresh start. It surely makes a difference but if after some time you start getting the same old problems, then you definitely need to satiate yourself with a new computer!

Congrats! You have decided to buy. Now what?

You will get hold of your mobile and call one of the local vendors you know or visit a shop someone said as being the best among the business. But wait! Even though you trust your local vendor a lot, there are a few things you need to sort out yourself before getting the vendor into the scene.

Analyze your needs

First of all, you need to have a clear idea of what exactly are your needs and preferences. You need to know what your computer will be used for so that you can be sure the finalized configuration will be capable of performing it in the best way. Here’s a small list to help you out on this…

• I’m a simple user. My maximum use would be browsing the internet, chatting, listening to music, watching movies and probably I would do all this simultaneously.
• I’m a moderate user. I would use 3D animation software / edit movie clips / use DJ Music editor software / encode videos etc.
• I’m a power user. I will overclock my system (ignore it if you don’t understand), keep it running for a long time… maybe for whole day.
• I’m a gamer. What’s a use of a PC if it can’t run NFS Carbon or Crysis at 25 fps at least?

This should give you an idea about the kind of user you are. Don’t worry if you fit into more than one category. Set your priorities and categorize yourself. This will also help you in fixing your budget. But don’t do that now. Read ahead.

Consult a geeky friend or relative

It is always a good habit to talk to someone who is up-to-date with the latest technology in the market. At the least you will get a general idea of what is hot on the market. It’s a good way to start your search. Remember you don’t need to hurry into the deal. Give yourself time to judge your decisions. You would want it to be a long term decision, won’t you? ;-). A knowledgeable friend will always be eager to help you out and you can learn a lot.

Educate yourself

You don’t want to get into a situation where you are saying yes to something just because you have no idea what your vendor is talking about. Here are some steps you can take to avoid it:

• Help yourself by searching on the internet. Yes, the information might not be localized for you but it applies to some components like processors and motherboards.
• Join forums, subscribe to blogs, read magazines, glance over the local newspaper to know what kind of configurations are selling. These things can make a huge difference to your final decision and are helpful as they can provide you with localized information. They will also tell you what not to buy!
• Check out your friend’s computer who might have recently bought it to feel the difference, if you haven’t already! It will help in motivating yourself to put in the hard-work that must be done anyway.

Remember, you don’t need to master yourself with all the components. Don’t bother about why a component is necessary in a computer configuration. Rather, focus on what are good and bad for each component. As long as you are aware of these things, nobody can fool you.

Set a budget

Armed with all the above information, you are in a better position to fix your budget. Now it’s totally upon you to decide where you need to compromise, if required. Would you increase your budget by a few thousands or contend with a lower performing component? That should always be a personal decision. It is always a good idea to give yourself some breathing space. Keep the budget flexible. For example, if your upper limit is 50k maximum, then set your budget to 45k. By extending your budget by just a small amount, you might get yourself a really good component that might serve you for a long time.

Ok, that was all about what you need to do at a personal level. Now let’s get a bit techie!

Branded PCs

Before getting into each component in detail, let’s talk about branded systems. If you come under the category of a simple user or are not bothered about various components of a system, you should consider a branded PC. Earlier, branded PC’s from Compaq or HP were very costly but the rates have fallen considerably and are now nominal for a middle class person. It is a quick, easy and simple solution to getting a new system. But of course, awareness always helps and even if you decide on a branded PC, you need to know what you are spending on. The most critical components cannot be changed in a branded PC and that’s what repels an enthusiast. Assembling a system has its own charm. Go for branded PCs only if you don’t want to be bothered about various components.

Components you need to consider

Unlike branded PCs, by assembling a system, you give yourself the freedom to choose amongst the best brand of each component and bring them together. It needs a more detailed understanding of each components but it is not difficult to learn. Your budget will be divided over various components. Some of them need to be given more budget than the others. It depends on your needs. From a casual glance the obvious components are Monitor, Speakers, keyboard, mouse, UPS and a big cabinet with most of the things that matter (also known as dabba locally)! Those of you who are upgrading might be interested in just the dabba. Hence I will talk about it separately. Most of your money would be spent on these components.

The Dabba (Cabinet)

This will consist of some of the most important components.

• Processor
• Motherboard
• RAM (Memory)
• Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
• CD/DVD Writer
• SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply). Included with the cabinet itself.
• Graphic Card (Optional for simple user)
• Sound Card (Optional for simple user)

Other Components

• Monitors
• Speakers
• Keyboard & Mouse
• UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply)

Processor and Motherboard

Processor and Motherboard together create the thrust of your system. Choosing them wisely is must. I have talked about them in detail in my post AMD vs INTEL. In brief, there are only two competitors in the processor market: Intel and AMD. Both have excellent processors on offer. The current set of Intel Core 2 Duo’s (C2D, you must have heard of it) have powered Intel ahead of AMD. Recently AMD launched its Quad Core processors too which are cheaper than their Intel counterpart but high-end INTEL Core 2 Quad processors are still faster than AMDs. If you are tight on budget, go for AMDs as they are value for money and it will remain so for a long time to come.

In the Motherboard section, a consumer has a lot of options to choose from: ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, XFX and Intel itself. Generally there is a notion that with Intel processors, the Intel motherboards are the best option. But this is definitely not true. Intel motherboards are costlier for the features they are powered with. The other brands have been in the industry for a long time and are reasonably priced for the loaded features they come with. Intel motherboards have retail value. Again, this is largely due to the mindset of the people. ASUS motherboards are one of the best. XFX also came up with pretty decent boards (Ultra series). These boards would fit easily in your budget.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

After processors and motherboards, memory is the second most important factor which decides the speed of the system. Nowadays 1GB is common and minimum requirement of most of the released games & software. 2GB 800 MHz single stick RAM is highly recommended if you are planning to go Vista way.

Various brands include Kingston, Transcend and Corsair. Corsair RAMs are costliest. Availability can be an issue depending on where you are living. So consult with your local vendor.

Monitor

The days of CRT (traditional monitors) are numbered. Except for very exceptional purposes like graphics designing etc., CRT’s are not used anymore. LCD screens have arrived and changed the whole scenario. Few years back, LCD screens were too costly to enter the common market. But with the fall in prices, they have replaced CRT’s as the best choice due to obvious advantages of better viewing experience and less power consumption. Make sure you get a widescreen (16:9) screen instead of traditional 4:3 screen. They give a good movie experience too!

Best brands to look for are Viewsonic and Samsung. I would recommend getting nothing short of 19″ (diagonal measurement) as 15″ and 17″ are outdated now. If possible 22″ would be great! I recently got myself a 19″ widescreen ViewSonic model and am already wondering whether I should have gone for a bigger one! Enjoy the LCD experience!

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Disk space usage has increased by leaps and bounds in the past few years. In those days of 2001-02, 8GB hard-disks were hitting the market. Technology has also undergone a vast change in HDD. From earlier 7200 rpm drives to today’s SATA powered drives show a huge difference. 160GB drives are passing out. 250GB & 320GB are in vogue now. The price differences of these high capacity disks aren’t much, so decide the amount of hard disk space according to your budget. Samsung Seagate HDD is alright. Again check with your local vendor for availability.

DVD Writer

Not much to say on this. Check out with your local vendor. SONY & LITE-ON are excellent brands. LG is also fine. DVD writing speed has risen to 20X. New SATA powered DVD drives are also entering the market though they are costly at present.

Cabinet with SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply)

A good locally available Cabinet works fine. Known brands include Zebrionics, VIP etc. If you are installing Graphic or Sound Card as well, then go for 500W SMPS at least.

Graphic Cards

This is an optional component. Depending on the type of user you are, you should decide whether to get one or not. If you are going to use software for 3D animation and development like MAYA or are into heavy photo editing, then probably you should get one. Deciding a graphic card can be a tough choice to make. Not because of too many brands but because of various uses and models. XFX is the best known brand in graphic card industry. A good graphics card can inflate your budget. So if you need one, ensure that you have done a lot of research in this segment before finalizing.

Graphic cards are a must for a gamer. XFX 8800GT 512MB XXX Alfa Dog edition is the hot one amongst gamers. But they change fairly quickly. I got myself an XFX 8600GT 256MB XXX edition and I was able to play Need For Speed Most Wanted at best widescreen settings with ease both on Windows XP and Vista (I love car racing games!). With the advent of Directx 10 cards, a lot of older cards have become obsolete. But directx 10 based games are yet to hit the market.

If you plan to get a widescreen LCD TFT monitor, then you should get a decent performing graphic card. It takes off the load from the RAM with its own in-built memory.

Sound Cards & Speakers

Those of you are who are planning to use your PC as a source of entertainment should get hold of a sound card for a decent audio experience. Coupled with a good set of 5.1 speakers from Creative, you can turn your PC into a home-theatre system. Latest motherboards are also supporting 5.1 channel surround sound. Creative 2.1 speakers are also excellent and sound superb even without sound cards.

Keyboard, Mouse and UPS

Your local vendor will get you the best available brand. Logitech is fine. Make sure to get a minimum of 600vA UPS for safe computing.

Enjoy the new fast computer experience!

With a little care on your part and some common sense, you can get yourself a great deal. Better system will help you be more efficient in your work. Sit back and relax. Reap the rewards of your own hard work! The knowledge you gain by simple awareness will be always valuable in the long run. A good buy will ensure you won’t have to think about upgrading for at least 2 years. So next time when you decide to enter the market in search of a new computer, remember these tips and you will be alright!

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