Buying For The Future, PC Style

For this, we will assume you are wanting to keep your computer for at least another 3-5 years. These strategies are to help you pick a computer that will be sufficient for your usage needs for the whole time you own your machine.

Processor

Now, this doesn’t have to be that complicated. There has recently been a change over in the processor world from one single computing core to multiple core chips. This was a major overhaul to processor architecture and is totally worth it. Thanks to this refreshing (if you will), pretty much all processors made prior to this are completely out of date. So, if you are getting a new Windows PC rule #1 is to get a computer that has a multi-core processor. Soon, 64-bit will be the standard and you will be glad that these processors will fit right in.

To make sure that this processor continues to be able to run the versions of software that will be coming out in the next 3-5 years, make sure your processor is in the mid to high range in speed. There is also a consideration to be made for the amount of RAM within the chipset. The rule is the more the better because that is where most of the heavy-duty computing is happening.

Hard Drive

Looking at the trends over the years, we can safely say that having a sizable hard drive in your new computer could do nothing but aid you. When computers first came out, they had hard drives in the megabytes. Now, we are getting into the range of having terabytes of hard drive space. Why have we become so needy of HD (Hard Drive) space? Because our files are becoming larger and more numerous.

Think about it in the terms of digital images. Back when digital cameras came out, you were lucky if it was close to one mega pixel. The file sizes were small and you were hard pressed to take more than 25 on a set of batteries. Now, digital cameras are less expensive, but they have 5 mega pixels (at least) and produce files 10 times the size. All of that information gain means you have a better looking picture, but also less room on your hard drive. Because cameras are cheaper, more people have them. And thus they need more room.

Besides that, people are starting to back almost everything up on their computers. Family photos, video of the family reunion (so you can show Aunt Mertle that Uncle Charlie really did moon the camera), CDs, and even movies are being stored on family hard drives. If that is how we work today, could you imagine what we will need in the near future? So get that bigger hard drive. It will be worth it.

RAM

Ram (or Random Access Memory) is the computer’s short term memory. The more short-term memory available, the faster your computer will run. This is another one where more is better. Soon, computers will be working in 64-bit and one of the advantages of 64 bit is that it allows for an ungodly amount of RAM. I think the number is somewhere around 16 exabytes (an exabyte is like one billion megabytes, one million gigabytes or 1,000 terabytes) of RAM. It isn’t necessary to max out the RAM right now because it can always be added later, but you want more than comes standard on most current systems.

DVD+-RW Drive

Yes, I put it in the heading of this one. You should definitely get a DVD+-RW drive. CDs are quickly going the way of the cassette tape and DVDs are in. Some people may wonder why I didn’t even mention BlueRay or HD DVD but that is for a reason…it hasn’t been decided which will be the standard. I’m not going to get into that discussion because it will take WAY too long to get nowhere fast. Just get a DVD+-RW. If you simply can’t live without CDs, you will still be able to burn them.

Video Card

This is another one that can be upgraded easily (if you can use a phillips head screw driver you can do this) when you need to but you will want a graphics card that will run Vista’s Aero. Believe me, Vista is merely a glorified XP without the Aero Glass interface. Don’t go overboard and buy the fastest thing you can find. Get the mid-range card and you will be more than happy with it.

Motherboard

Up until this point, we have been in beginner to intermediate user territory. However, we have just stepped into the shadowy realm of computer geeks with this one. Don’t worry if you have never heard of a MoBo (motherboard). Basically, it is the central nervous system of your computer. Everything is plugged into it so they can interact and work together. I would suggest that if you are building your computer (Notice: Building your own computer is a little more advanced than installing a graphics card. Research what you are going to do before you do it. One wrong move could leave you with a fancy doorstop) that you start with picking the right motherboard.

No matter how much you want to upgrade your computer with RAM, video card, and hard drive the MoBo will ultimately establish your boundaries. MoBo’s are a “you get what you paid for” item. If you go for the cheap one with the least flexibility, you are stuck. And we all know that replacing the MoBo could be a real PITA (Pain In The @$%).

Monitor

Now we step back out of the geekdom to talk about the monitor. For all of you out there still looking at the curved hideousness of an old CRT taking up half of your desktop, my heart feels for you. The rest of us are looking at beautiful LCD screens and are enjoying the small footprint. LCDs have taken over the monitor market and will quickly become the only thing available in stores. I’m sure there are some hardcore gamers out there crying out in frustration at this trend because for heavily graphic intensive applications, like games, there is no replacing the CRT. LCDs just haven’t caught up yet.

However, if you are getting a new computer and you don’t want to give up half of your desk space to a huge honkin’ screen, check out an LCD monitor.

Extra

Sure there should be some thought into what kind of keyboard and mouse you will get but that is determined more by personal need/choice that it doesn’t need covered. Just don’t stick with the ones you get with the PC. There is a reason they are given away people. The rest is up to you guys. I hope you have fun picking out your new PCs.

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