Finding the Best Desktop Computer For You

You're looking for a desktop PC and with a market full of choices, how do you sort through the various brands, specs, and add-ons to make sure you're getting the best deal on the best desktop computer? Before you buy consider:

The who, what, where
Who will be using the computer, what will it be used for, and where will it be used? Knowing this will help you identify the right system features and benefits. A home computer may serve as a tool for managing communications, a student resource for research and homework, or as a component of a home entertainment system. A business computer requires communications capabilities in addition to handling larger volumes of data and maybe even external storage and back up capabilities.

The processor
Two things to remember about desktop processors: speed means your programs will run faster, size means you can run multiple programs at the same time. Processor speed is measured in megahertz (MHz) or Gigahertz (GHz): One MHz = one million cycles per second. One GHz = one billion cycles per second. Therefore, 1000 MHz = 1 GHz The most common PC processors are made by Intel and AMD. Common Apple desktop processors are made by IBM or Motorola.

Memory
You need enough enough Random Access Memory, or RAM, to run your system and perform your required tasks. A minimum of 1GB of DDR2 memory should be sufficient for the latest desktop operating systems to handle most office and home use including web surfing and general media functions. Serious gaming, graphic arts, or multi-media production will require something closer to 4GB of DDR2 RAM.

Graphics Solutions
The graphics card helps your desktop computer render pictures using its own processor and RAM. Just like the main processor, speed and size are directly related to performance. For a home desktop PC, look for a 128 MB graphics card if you need more oomph, bump it up to 512 MB. ATI and Nvidia are common graphics card providers.

Hard Drive Space
One benefit of a desktop computer is the option to have a really big hard drive. Hard drive capacity is important because the hard drive is where all of your resident programs and files are stored. Look for something in the neighborhood of a 250GB to 500GB hard drive for a basic system and up to 1TB 7,200rpm hard drive for gaming and artistic users, who also may want to consider two hard drives to optimize the function of graphic intensive software or multi-media editing programs.

The Operating System
The operating system is your desktop PC's main program acting as the liaison between the hardware and applications. It governs every task and it's what makes all of that complex behind-the-scenes computing look like windows, menus, and tool bars. When choosing an operating system, look for speed, security, disk space requirements, and how well it works with third-party applications.

Monitors and Screen Resolution
Desktop computer monitor sizes and shapes vary. The emphasis is on resolution, color, and profile. Screen resolution is the number of colored pixels (think dots) used to make up everything you see on your monitor. The higher the resolution, the more pixels used and the better the image looks.

Other features
You'll want to include Universal Serial Bus, or USB ports, for connecting printers, a mouse, flash drives, cameras, and video devices, scanners, and game controllers to your desktop PC. Digital Video Interface, DVI or High Definition Multimedia Interface, HDMI are necessary for video and audio transmitting. A CD/DVD burner/player is useful for offloading and uploading data and creating or viewing multi-media files.

Whatever your computer price point, high-end, mid-range, whether you're looking for a low-price desktop computer, a low-cost desktop PC, an inexpensive all-in-one computer, a cheap PC or a top-rated desktop computer, we've got a desktop system to suit your lifestyle and your budget. And, we've got plenty of PC brands to choose from including Acer desktops, Compaq desktops, Dell desktops, eMachine desktops, IBM desktops, Gateway desktops, HP desktops, Mac desktops, PowerSpec desktops, and Sony desktops so there's something for everyone in every price range.