What kind of computer do I need?

The computer you need depends upon the tasks you expect to use it for. This in turn will affect the price you would expect to pay for it. A good way to begin is to list the essential tasks you will want to do on your computer. Is playing the latest 3D action games a priority, or do you only want to type letters and keep your accounts? Your priorities could make a big difference to the type of computer and extra peripherals (printer, scanner, speakers, etc) that you need to buy. As well as your "essential" list, it is also a good idea to make a secondary "possible" list of non-essential - but desirable - computer activities.

When you have a good idea of what you want to do with your computer, you will be in a better position to decide what hardware and software you will need for the job. This will also need to be balanced against your available budget. To get the best possible deal, it helps to learn about some of the technicalities yourself rather than to rely solely upon a computer salesman's recommendations.

Processor

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the "brains" of your computer and controls the speed at which it processes information. In terms of computing power, it is the most important element of a computer system. Processing speed is measured in megahertz (MHz) and gigahertz (GHz, or 1,000MHz). The higher the number, the faster the PC.


Since 2005, "dual-core" processors have become common, where two physical processors are integrated into a single physical chip so that two "threads" of data can be processed simultaneously for faster multi-tasking. Currently, dual-core processors are being phased out in favour of faster "quad-core" processors.


The two main manufacturers of processors are Intel and AMD. Intel processors range from the budget single-core Celeron to the mid-range Core 2 Quad, to the Core i7 Extreme for high performance. AMD processors range from the entry-level Sempron, to the mid-range Athlon 64 X2, to the Phenom II X4 at the top of the range.

Memory

The memory (RAM or Random Access Memory) is where your computer stores the information it is currently working on. The more memory in your computer, the faster it will run. RAM was once measured in megabytes (MB) but is increasingly measured in gigabytes (1GB = 1,000MB) as computers become more powerful to meet the demands of modern software.

A reasonable starting spec for the Windows XP operating system is 512MB. This is sufficient for office tasks and surfing the internet, but if you intend to use graphics-intensive programs or to play 3D games, you should consider increasing this to 1 or 2GB. Windows Vista users will require a minimum of 2GB and preferably 4GB of RAM.

Hard Drive

Your hard drive is where your PC stores your work, files and programs. Hard drive space is measured in gigabytes (GB). When considering a hard drive size, bigger is definitely better. While 80GB is sufficient for office tasks, you will need more capacity if you intend to store large amounts of data, such as digital images and multimedia files, or to install a lot of games. Hard drives of between 200GB and 500GB are now standard and reasonably cheap. High-end systems may offer up to 1TB (1 terabyte or 1,000GB) but at a premium price.

Recommended Spec for standard desktop PC:

Processor: Intel Core2 Duo Processor 2.5 GHz or Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4000+
Memory: 2GB DDR2
Hard Disk: 300 GB
Optical Drive: 16X Max DVD+/-RW Combination Drive with double layer write capability
Graphics: 256MB or integrated graphics card
Sound: Inter grated soundcard and stereo speakers
Monitor: 19" TFT/LCD monitor with DVI and VGA inputs
Connectors: Built in ethernet, at least 4 USB2 ports
Operating System: Windows XP Home or Vista Home if XP is not an option.


Refurbished or entry-level budget PCs can be purchased for under £200. The standard specifications to run everyday, multimedia software or for playing DVD movies and surfing the internet will currently cost around £500. For a system capable of running the latest 3D games, graphics rendering, video editing etc, you will need a higher spec system with a faster processor and/or more RAM, 512MB graphics card and a larger hard drive.

Desirable extras might include a TV card, which allows you to watch TV on your monitor, to record programs to your hard drive and to capture analogue video from a camcorder.

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