Just remember that technology is always advancing and your computer will probably be updated a few months after your purchase. There is no way to avoid this, so once you take the plunge don’t waste your time looking through any computer ads or listings.

1. Processor

The processor, or Central Processing Unit (CPU), is essentially the brain of your machine. It runs your programs, powers your games, and crunches your calculations. The CPU can be the most daunting component when it comes to purchasing a computer. With so many different choices from AMD and Intel, you may not know where to turn. Several years ago I would tell you to buy the CPU with the fastest clock speed (Measured in GHz). This is no longer true. You want to buy the fastest computer but clock speed is no longer the only factor in determining which CPU is right for you. You also need to worry about front side buss and the number of cores on the CPU.

Front Side Bus
Front side bus (FSB) connects the CPU and the rest of the computer. The higher the front side bus, the faster data can be sent and executed. A high clock speed is one thing, but without a quick front side bus, the performance is wasted. Try to buy a product with at least 800MHz of FSB

Cores
Now that you understand Clock Speed and front side bus, it’s time to learn about cores. A core is actually the part of the CPU that performs calculations. Basically, CPU is to your head as a core is to your brain. Having additional cores allows for more data to be processed at the same time. Each additional core makes for more processing power, assuming the applications you are running can take advantage. The more cores your system has the more multitasking you can do. Most multicore computers use 2 cores, known as a duel core machine. Think of dual core as an 8 lane highway compared to single core as a 4 lane highway.

Mutlicore machines are becoming more and more popular. For instance, I highly recommend Intel’s core 2 duo line because those processors are extremely powerful and cost efficient. In fact, Intel’s “core” line of CPU’s all perform very well per dollar. AMD has some interesting options but I prefer to stick with Intel.

To conclude, try to get a machine with a solid mix of multiple cores and clock speed. You may not need the power now but this will keep your computer running for a long time and allows you the flexibility to use more intensive programs later.

2. Memory

Random access memory (RAM) is known as the cheapest and simplest way to enhance your computer. In fact, upgrading RAM is very simple so don’t hesitate to upgrade your memory down the road. Anyway, RAM is a temporary storage median for the applications and programs running on your machine. I say temporary because RAM can potentially be modified several billion times a second. Plus, when you turn off your computer the RAM is purged meaning nothing is stored for long.

Although there are different types* of RAM, such as DDR2 and SDRam, try not to worry about it when buying your computer. The average user will never know the difference so what ever is included in the computer is probably fine. I suggest looking for at least 1GB of RAM in your machine. However, I strongly suggest 2gb of RAM or more with Windows Vista/7 to make everything run that much smoother. In fact, RAM prices have continued to fall so 2gb of RAM is not the wallet breaker is once was. Get the most ram for your money and don’t hesitate to upgrade in the future.

*Note that not all RAM modules are compatible with each other. Consult your users manual to find the specific type of RAM used in your machine before upgrading.

3. Hard Disc

The Hard Disc or Hard Drive (HD) in your computer is where data, programs, and games are stored. HD prices are at an all time low so don’t cheap out. Personal media, such as music and video content, continue to take up more and more space so aim for at least a 250 gigabyte (gb) HD. In fact, you can find 1tb (1000gb) drives for under $100 so don’t skimp out on a small drive.

Cache and RPM
Besides the size of your drive, there are more factors to consider including Cache and speed. Cache is basically the ram of the hard drive. Aim to get at least 4mb of cache in your drive and more if you plan on running intensive 3D games or programs. Revolutions per minute (RPM) is how quickly data on the drive can be accessed. Try to get at least a 5,400 RPM drive while aiming for 7,200 RPM’s on a more expensive machine. Premium drives can be 10,000 RPM,’s or more, but do offer better throughput. Don’t go crazy though, get what fits in your budget.

Types.
Furthermore, there are actually multiple types of drives on the market today. The most common in new desktop computers are SATA or SATA2. Slower ATA drives are still in production but they have issues with large amounts of data and are bulky inside of your case. Additionally, Hybrid Hard Drives (HHD) and SSD drives are both an up and coming technology. Right now they are geared for lightweight and higher-end notebooks. For a desktop computer don’t worry about either of these formats unless you want to be on the cutting edge and pay a premium for their limited storage.

All in all, I suggest looking for SATA drives at this point. They offer great performance and store a lot of data per dollar.

4. Optical Drive

Most computers come with a built in DVD/CD burner. I recommend having a burner, and a few blank discs, for the occasional project so spend the extra few dollars to get the burner if one isn’t standard. When shopping around you may see something called LightScribe. LightScribe enables you to etch designs into a disc essentially creating a label. Unfortunately, the quality is average at best so don’t spend the extra money for a LightScribe drive. If one comes standard, feel free to try it out, but don’t expect professional looking labels on your discs.

You may also want to consider a blu-ray drive or burner. Although expensive, it is nice to be able to back-up 50gb of data on one portable disc. Burners start at around $200 but blu-ray discs will last longer than DVD’s allowing you a more future proof storage median than DVD. Remember, 1080p movies take a lot of resources to play meaning a budget computer wouldn’t be able to play a blu-ray movie so of course a blu-ray drive isn’t worth the price. Personally, I don’t have a blu-ray drive or burner but if you want to future proof your purchase, you may want to consider a blu-ray drive.

5. Graphics

Most value computer have integrated graphics meaning the graphics processing is built into the motherboard. This may sound good to some people but to be frank, it’s not. Integrated graphics are weak and offer very little performance in terms of video playback and gaming. They don’t include built in memory which means system RAM will be diverted from general use to use with the graphics processing. This can slow down your machine. However, for the average computer users who doesn’t play games or watch HD movies, this is fine.

For someone who does want to play games, watch movies or use multiple monitors, you need to have a separate graphics card. There are two current types of graphics cards on the market today: PCIe and AGP. AGP cards are those of the past. These cards are slower and only one card can be installed and working in your machine at any given time. PCIe cards have, for the most part, begun to eliminate AGP cards. Besides the increase in speed, PCIe offers the option of running multiple cards at the same time. With this option, you can do one of two things. Install two compatible Nvidia cards that are deigned to work together which allows for better performance, this is known as scalable link interface (SLI) (ATI calls this crossfire) . If you don’t think you want to pay the extra money for SLI cards, you can also just install two different cards to power extra displays. This is helpful if you work with many large files at the time same and you need upwards of two monitors. However, if you are going to run multiple cards I highly suggest getting two of the same for SLI support. You may save some money but the extra performance is worth the upgrade.

When looking for a graphics card, you need to consider:
Processor clock speed-The speed of the graphics processing unit (GPU) is similar to the speed of the CPU. It’s important to remember that sheer clock speed does not necessarily determine performance.
Memory-The more memory, like system memory, the more processes can be performed at the same time. Generally a lot of memory means a fast card; however, if your card has small clock speed performance will not be effected by more memory.
Memory Bandwidth-Similar to front side bus, memory bandwidth is how quickly the graphics card memory communicates with the GPU.

That’s all the average consumer needs to know about graphics. Of course, there are many other details that the hard-core gamer wants to know about but that is not the focus of this article. The focus is to educate you, the average consumer, on how to get the most bang for your buck when buying a desktop computer.

6. Other Information

Wireless
For most people, you will be working with a wired connection directly to your modem, dial-up connection, or router. But wireless is a growing desire for a lot of users. Being able to set-up and use your computer anywhere in your house is a great feature to have. So when buying your next computer, considering get one with built in WiFi. Look for 802.11n for fastest throughput otherwise 802.11g will be fine. Remember, wired networking is much faster than wireless networking so only use WiFi if you cannot connect your computer physically to the network.

Display
Get an LCD display. Aim for at least a 17inch screen but if you can splurge get a larger display. Every time you use your machine you will be looking at the screen so make sure the contrast ratio is at least 700:1 and the resolution is at least 1280×960. Also, try to get the largest viewing angle, in degrees, possible to make sure you can see the content of the screen from any angle. Some monitors include built in USB ports, which are a convenient way to connect USB devices to your machine, and variable height adjustments allowing you to customize the viewing experience.

So that is it, everything you need to know when buying a new computer. Remember, the CPU and RAM are more important than an upgraded graphic card for the average user, so spend more money on the items on the top of the list.

By the way, if you are considering building your own computer, instead of buying a pre-assembled model, check out my computer building series.