In the new age of laptops, tablets and smartphones, why would anyone choose to still purchase a desktop computer? Are they not obsolete remnants of the previous decade? Not quite. Desktop computers still possess superior computing power over laptops. Desktops are not constrained by the space limitations of laptops. They can hold larger and better processors, more memory, and larger hard drives. This enables them to dominate laptops in these areas, and more. Desktops also provide their users with more flexibility. Even the smaller desktops can be upgraded in many different ways. You can also upgrade without having to buy an entirely new computer, as you usually would for a laptop. Another flexibility advantage is the ability to add specialized components, such as advanced video cards for gaming. You can customize a traditional desktop computer in ways that would never be possible with a laptop. Desktops also give you a greater return on investment. Simply put, you get more computing power for every dollar you pay.
The first step is to determine how you will use your desktop. Usage falls in to three broad categories:
The farther up this scale you are, the more you will want to invest in a faster processor, more memory, a larger/faster hard drive, and perhaps a larger and higher resolution monitor.
Many desktop users have already settled on a favorite operating system, but here are some quick points on what they offer:
The processor, or CPU, is the brains of the computer. It determines the type of applications you can run, how fast they run, and how many of them you can have open at the same time. Most desktops use either Intel or AMD processors. A better processor provides better performance, but will also cost you more money. Intel Core i5 and i7 processors are their current high end, with AMD featuring the Ryzen processors series.
Memory, or RAM, can be thought of as the amount of space you have in which to work. More memory equals more space, which equals more and/or larger programs running at the same time. Today's minimum is 2GB, with 4GB being better. Heavy gaming or video processing will benefit from between 8-16GB, or more. If you are in doubt about how much you will need, then choose a desktop model that will let you expand the memory by adding more sticks.
Internal storage determines how much stuff you can keep on your computer, that will remain there when the power is off. This includes both applications and data files (documents, pictures, spreadsheets, etc.). A classic hard drive is the slowest, but also less expensive and with the most storage space. On the fast end of the spectrum are solid state drives (SSD), which are smaller and cost more, but much faster. A third option, a hybrid drive will give you both SSD for quick start times, along with the higher capacity of a traditional hard drive. Hybrid drives are priced in the mid-range between traditional hard drives and SSD. You can also get an SSD as your boot drive and for high performance applications, and a second traditional hard drive for file storage and less demanding applications.
Be sure to check desktop port specifications to ensure that ports are available for whatever you wish to connect to the computer. It is frustrating to find that the video ports are not compatible with the amazing new monitor you bought a few days earlier. The most common port types are:
Most desktops have integrated graphics, which means it is build into the motherboard and main chipset. It works well for light and most moderate use, but high end users will want to get a dedicated graphics card. Gamers, video editors and multimedia producers will especially benefit from these.
Will you want a touch screen? While this is still mostly a matter of preference, if you are interested then make sure your operating system supports a touch screen interface.
If you do not have a lot of space available, then consider a more compact desktop rather than a full-size or tower. There are still a lot of flexible options from which you can choose.
If you are a serious gamer, consider looking for a specialized gaming computer with a powerful processor, lots of memory, multiple large hard drives and one or more high end graphics cards. Gaming packages are often less expensive than trying to customize one yourself.
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