Buying a Computer
When purchasing a new computer, it is easy to be confused by the volume of technical decisions you will have to make. How to choose the best equipment adapted to your needs or your desires? This article is here to help you!
More and more computers
The choice between computers become more and more confused as the boundaries between the categories are blurred. For example, some new desktops are almost as small and unobtrusive as a laptop.
Conversely, you can easily find a laptop as powerful as a conventional desktop computer. Also there are unconventional categories, such as laptops that can be used as tablets and all-in-one desktops that do not need a separate monitor.
When visiting a computer store, the prospect is quite daunting — faced with the extensive choice of how to decide from such a range? This guide will help you find the best solution.
The criteria for choosing a computer
Fixed or portable
Purchase computer between traditional tower PCs, mini PCs, all-in-one computers and laptops, you’ll have to make choices depending on where you need to use your computer. If you have to go to customers, you can only choose a laptop. Sometimes you’ll want to buy two machines, a desktop, and a Chromebook.
The operating system: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS
Windows 10
Windows 10 brings a more uniform interface to a variety of devices: computers, tablets, Xbox consoles, and smartphones. Also, the “universal applications” developed for Windows 10 will look the same and work the same way on a variety of devices. And many more games are available for Windows computers than for Macs.
macOS
Choisir-macMacs are more expensive, but they are less subject to most viruses and spyware. Apple phone support is free for only 90 days. The latest version of macOS is called Mojave and was released in the fall of 2018.
Linux
Linux is more intended for people who are computer literate and prefer free software.
Chrome OS
This solution is practical and not expensive but requires always to have an internet connection and to have limited needs.
Generally, PCs are harder to use but are cheaper and have more software, and Macs are easier to use but are more expensive, and less software has been created for them.
The screen (s)
The size of the screens measured diagonally can vary greatly. For a desktop computer, the most common sizes are 19 and 20 inches.
Most are widescreens, which fit better with widescreen movies but give you less screen space per inch. Those considering retouching photos or videos should note differences in color, viewing angle, contrast, and brightness. Monitors are often cheaper when they come with a new computer. You want to select your computer accessories at cheap rates visit here Computer & Office.
For a laptop, a 15 to 16-inch screen should fit most people. The filters that are 13, 14, and 17 inches are also standard.
The screens of most laptops are brilliant instead of being dull. Shiny screens have more saturated colors and deeper blacks but are also more prone to glare. Like desktop monitors, most laptop screens are widescreen displays to show widescreen movies at their best.
Note that you can also work on the dual-screen with your laptop if the graphics card allows it. This allows mixed-use with greater comfort when you use it at home or in the office.
Touch screens
Borrowed tablets, computer manufacturers, have begun to include touch screens on many laptops. These have custom and touch-sensitive multimedia applications and include the multitouch feature, which allows you to use your fingers to zoom, rotate, and scroll the screen.
Windows 10, which is designed to work on both mobile devices and conventional computers, seems to be accelerating the trend. Computers with touch screens tend to cost more.
The ports
USB
USB-cThe last port to arrive on the computers is USB-C. It is reversible, so you will never insert a USB-C plug in the wrong way. It can also be used to power your laptop. With an adapter, it is compatible with earlier versions of USB.
USB ports allow you to connect various additional peripherals, such as digital cameras or external hard drives, as well as flash drives to copy files to and from the hard drive. Having these ports at the front of the desktop box makes the connection devices more convenient.
An Ethernet port or wireless network card allows you to connect multiple computers in the house to share files, a printer, or a broadband Internet connection.
Thunderbolt, a very fast data transfer port, is also used to connect external devices. The latest version, Thunderbolt 3, uses a USB-C connector. However, there are fewer compatible devices available than for USB.
Note that Mac laptops only have USB-C ports. This may require you to buy adapters. That’s one of the reasons I bought a Mac mini.
HDMI
An HDMI output jack allows you to use a video cable from the computer to a TV, allowing you to use the DVD player of the computer to watch a movie or video stream of an online service such as than Netflix to a TV instead of watching it on a screen.
SD slot
If you work a lot with photography, an SD slot can be a convenient way to transfer files from your camera to your computer. For computers with small hard drives, an SD card can also function as a small, discrete addition to the computer’s overall memory.
Wireless
If you plan to connect to a large number of networks and want to do it wirelessly, it’s probably best to have a built-in Wi-Fi receiver instead of working with an external Wi-Fi device. If you’re using a desktop computer, you can probably get away with an Ethernet cable right into the computer without being constantly bothered by the need for a wire to get the Internet.
Bluetooth
Just like Wi-Fi, you can get a built-in Bluetooth receiver with your computer. Whether it’s sending audio to a headset or 7.1 surround sound system, or having a wireless mouse and keyboard, Bluetooth is a convenient way to make these connections easy and tangle-free.
The processor
Multi-core processors can process more data simultaneously, with four cores becoming more common on laptops.
The speed measured in gigahertz (GHz), as well as the number of cores and other factors, determine the speed at which a processor can process the information. Many processors can increase the speed a little for a short period of time to get maximum performance; this is called the turbo boost.
Desktop computers usually have more powerful processors. Also, remember that the processor will determine the possible life of your machine. A low-end processor will quickly become obsolete, and you may see your computer rowing immediately.
What do you want to do with your CPU?
Determine your processor type and maximum budget based on what your computer needs to do.
Basic tasks
If you’re only looking for a chip that lets you watch videos, surf the web, and perform productivity tasks like word processing and lightweight spreadsheets, then an entry-level chip with two or four hearts is what you need.
If you often do more than one of these basic tasks at once, it would be better to go to a slightly more powerful model. You can choose a high price Intel Pentium chip, an Intel Celeron, or chips like AMD’s Athlon 200GE on the low end.
Gammer
If you’re primarily interested in gaming performance, you need at least an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 mid-range processor. The graphics card is more important for the game than the processor.
Creative media work
If you want more heart or speed for things like video editing or if you want a fast and powerful system with additional extra cost for future computing tasks, go crazy on a Core i7, Core i9 or Ryzen chip
Very resource-intensive work
If you often expect minutes or hours that your current system renders your 3D animation or 4K video, or if you’re dealing with massive databases and complex mathematics, think of an Intel Core X or AMD Threadripper.
Intel chips
Intel-CPU general here is why each type of processor is best suited:
Intel Core i3: Basic Users. Economic choice. Great for browsing the web, using Microsoft Office, making video calls, and social networking. Not for players or professionals.
Intel Core i5: Intermediate Users. Those are looking for a balance between performance and price. Suitable for the game if you buy a G processor or a Q processor with a dedicated graphics processor.
Intel Core i7: Advanced Users. You multitask with multiple windows open at the same time, you run applications that require a lot of power, and you hate waiting for something to load.