In terms of looks a computer is like a spouse - a better, sexier model is always with someone else. But like a spouse, a good-looking laptop or desktop is only charming for as long. Soon you’ll be tired of looking AT it and will want performance from it. To avoid disappointment later, choose wisely - look under the hood or in this case, look in the box! What do we see?
~ CPU~
*If you compare the comp to a human, CPU is the heart. Like the human heart, it’s difficult to replace. Choose this piece wisely as it will determine the overall performance of your system and also the price!
Buy according to your need
Latest fad is the CORE processor, which has 2 or even 4 processor cores on a single chip. Its like having 4 CPUs for the price of one. well almost! But for most people who use the comp just for internet surfing, Buying a Quad-core processor for surfing is like putting a horses face on a donkey’s body - You can do it, but its not wise. My advise- go a couple of notches lower – like a Dual core or Pentium chip - This way you are future proof but don’t need to invest a fortune in CPU cost. Save money - remember your PC will be obsolete the moment you have bought it! Get Celeron only if you are on a nickel and dime budget.
Intel is more established and being a bigger brand charges a premium price - you get stability and better device compatibility. If you research wisely, you can get a better AMD processor for the same price. If you don’t do your homework, you will pay more in components or have an unstable system - very nasty.*
Clock-speed** is the next thing to look at while choosing a CPU. Obviously - faster is better here.
Another thing is the L2 cache -More then 50% of the buyers ignore this important spec. You are lucky to have read this info here:-) DONT IGNORE THIS! Standard spec is 1 or 2MB, but nowadays 4MBs are available. Spend the initial extra money and get a CPU with larger cache. Why? Don’t take my word for it - Read more here -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPU_cache*
~ CPU fan~*
Usually comes with a CPU, but an upgrade is better. Choose one that will fit on your CPU. Don’t buy a big plastic fan bcoz it’s cheap. Look at the heat-sink material. Aluminium is good, copper is better and some even have gold(why not, if you have the money!) I have a cooling fan that cost me Rs.2000 - Heat-sink’s made of copper. It keeps my system cool and in turn, keeps me calm. I know I wont burn my CPU due to over heating - even in 40 °C weather. Did I mention with all the copper, it looks cool too:-)
~ Motherboard~*
Like the CPU, don’t spend more money in getting the latest and greatest. On the other hand - don’t be cheap and get the cheapest. ASUS is a well-respected name for performance. ATI is good value.
Most important spec is the Front Bus Speed. This will determine the speed at which your data will flow. Obviously, higher=better, but wait! It’s not that simple. Look at the max FBS supported by your CPU and then choose your board accordingly. Usually the CPU-Motherboard combinations go hand-in-hand.
Look under the covers
This is the last thing you want to change in your system. Many times, changing the comp is a cheaper alternative then replacing the board! Be very careful here. Thok-baja ke khareedo. Don’t be afraid to ask questions:
? Is it future proof
? Can I put more RAM? How much more
? What is the max. clock speed of the RAM it’ll support
? Can I add a graphic card
? Will I need to change the power supply to add a graphic card
? How many slots does it have
? Which chipset does it support - Check that chipset - Ask friends - google it!
? how many USB slots
? Onboard sound
? Onboard 10/100 network card
Don’t pay more for a faster board when you have a slower CPU. Similarly, don’t pay more for extra slots if you are not going to use them. Expansion slots to add additional cards like TV-tuner, graphics, wireless, etc should be PCI express.
~ Bolo RAM RAM RAM - Radhe Shyam Shyam Shyam~
This is the answer to most of your comp problems! Practically speaking - RAM is the easiest and the most non-intrusive way to upgrade the performance of your system. Before doing anything else to your computer, simply try adding extra RAM to it - 9 out of 10 times, you will see a performance boost!
While 2 GB is a must for Microsoft Vista(horrible OS), XP can live on 1-1.5 GB. Is there such a thing as too much? Not at all.! But do not do it blindly. Not all computers are equal. Some can make use of more RAM while others cannot. Check if your motherboard can support > 2 GB ram? Can you CPU take advantage of it? Does your OS allow it?
*~ Hard Disk Drive - HDD~
Needed for data storage and retrieval! There are over 14 different things one can look at while choosing a HDD and thus can be a review in itself - to cover the basics;
Size - In these days when broadband Internet and downloads are part of common lingo, a 250 GB is a good size HDD to have. Obviously a bigger drive can store more, but along with capacity, the thing to consider is spindle speed. A 7200-RPM drive can make your data accesses 50% faster then a 4200-RPM drive and 30% faster then a 5400-RPM drive. Stick to the brands here - Seagate, Hitachi, Samsung are good. Seek time is an imp performance spec
BEST 9ms
~ Graphic card~*
Just like prayers alone are not an answer to all the problems, just RAM is not enough. If you are into games N graphics, you may need an additional graphics card. These days some graphics cards are like mini-comps. They come with their own processor, cooling fan, onboard memory and even need an additional power supply. This can be a review in itself, but to cover the basics, check the onboard memory - more the better. Check the type of memory - DDR2 is a must, DDR3 is better. Most web-surfers can survive without a graphics card or with an onboard-integrated graphics chip.*
~ Monitor~*
While CRT was the preferred choice LCD screens are better as they are easier on the eyes for longer viewing. They also consume less power, are easier to move, take less space, look good and don’t cost a bomb. Go for LCD. If you play games, check the response time of the screen so there is no blurring – you should get a screen having less then 4ms response.*
~ The box~*
Well, you need to house the parts together, don’t you? Alternatively you can nail the pieces to a wall and save money - It has been done by a friend and trust me - it works great! Cooling is superb but so is the layer of dust on the parts:D(Hey! no-one said it needed to be hygienic) Most boxes come with a power supply. Auto power off on shutdown is optional but needed - Get it! Many people like aesthetic designs and go crazy on the box. Sky is the limit and of course - the money in the pocket.*
~ Contd.*