My Computer Mechanic

What Computer Should I Buy?

This is the most common question that people ask us when trying to decide between fixing a computer & replacing it. This month I will answer this question for desktop computers. (Next month I will cover notebook/laptop computers.)

First of all, the last place that you want to get this information is from the pimple-faced kid at your local office supply or big-box retail store. His main emphasis is on moving dusty cardboard boxes out of the store's inventory. Once the salesman knows how much you want to spend, he will find your "perfect" match with one of their dusty boxes.

We, of course, recommend our own Tool Box computers that we build specifically for you. We use only the highest quality parts & stand behind the warranty right here in our shop. You can get more information about Tool Box computers on our website here .

But if you want to do some shopping, here are the things to look for. First and foremost, never buy any computer manufactured by Acer, eMachine, or Gateway. These machines are pure junk. (We're speaking from the perspective of someone who sees these brands on the bench constantly needing repairs.)

Next, other than the name on the computer, not many people reading this article would know anything about the manufacturer of the parts that go inside the computer. The first rule of thumb is you get what you pay for. If all of the specifications for 2 computers are identical, & one is significantly cheaper than the other, the motherboard, optical drive, RAM, etc. are from inferior manufactures.

Now to the specifics of how to evaluate your next desktop computer:

Processors (CPU). The first specification listed for all computer system on the market tends to be the processor, that is, the heart of the computer. The processor will fundamentally let you know what kind of computer you are getting. I've pieced together this list of categories to show you how functional each processor is.

Outdated Processors: Processors that fall into this category are no longer in production by the manufacturers and are typically sold in budget systems. Retail stores love to advertise these computers at cheap prices because they want to get these old, dusty boxes out of their stores. Machines with these processors will take longer to run applications and possibly might not even run some of software on the market today. It is best to try and avoid systems with these processors.

• AMD Athlon 64 (Non-Dual Core/X2 Models)
• AMD Athlon 64 X2 (Older Socket A Models/DDR Memory RAM Models)
• AMD Athlon XP
• AMD Athlon X2
• AMD Phenom X3 and X4 Series
• AMD Sempron LE
• Intel Core 2 Duo
• Intel Core 2 Quad
• Intel Celeron
• Intel Celeron Dual-Core
• Intel Pentium 4
• Intel Pentium D
• Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2000 Series

Budget Processors: These are processors that may or may not be in production anymore by the manufacturers but are less expensive and functional.

• AMD Athlon II X2 240 and Higher
• AMD Athlon II X3 440 and Higher
• AMD Athlon II X4 620 and Higher
• AMD Phenom II X2 545 and Higher
• AMD Phenom II X3 705 and Higher
• AMD Phenom II X4 810
• Intel Core i3-2100 and Higher
• Intel Core i3-530 and Higher
• Intel Pentium G6950

Middle Processors: This is the segment of the market that is probably the best overall value for your computing dollar. While they are not the fastest processors on the market, they still perform very well in all aspects of computing.

• AMD Phenom II X4 945 and Higher
• AMD Phenom II X6 1045T and Higher
• Intel Core i5-2300 and Higher
• Intel Core i5-650 and Higher
• Intel Core i5-750 and Higher
• Intel Core i7-2600 and Higher
• Intel Core i7-860 and Higher
• Intel Core i7-920 and Higher

Top of the Line Processors: This is the cream of the crop when it comes to processing power. If you absolutely must have the best thing out there for your new computer then this is what you want to look at. It will cost you though. Generally the most recent processors from the manufacturer's come at a price premium of about double that of the middle processors. While the price is over double that of the middle processors, the performance tends to be only about 25-50% more at the best of times from their counterparts in the middle category.

• AMD Phenom II X6 1090T and 1100T Black Edition
• Intel Core i7-975 Extreme
• Intel Core i7-980X Extreme

Memory (RAM): Most desktop computers now use a type of memory called DDR3. DDR2 is now only found in less expensive budget classed systems. In terms of amount, it is best to have at least 4GB of memory for the smoothest operation. Users that have a large number of applications open at a time will want to have as much as 8GB of memory. Memory speeds can impact performance as well. The faster the memory, the better the performance should be. Hard Drives: Hard drives really boil down to size, the larger the drive the better. In a desktop, it is best to have at least 500GB or more of storage space these days. Always buy a hard drive that uses the Serial ATA (SATA) interface.

Optical Drives (CD/DVD/Blu-ray): Most systems sold now always have a DVD burner, even the budget systems. DVD Burners now cost less than 10% of their original price. It is best to make sure that you get a multiformat DVD burner that can support both the +R/RW and -R/RW formats. Speeds should be at least 16x for the recordable speed. Dual or Double Layer media support is also a common feature although less likely to be used due to media cost. Options also include LightScribe or Labelflash support for burning labels directly to compatible media. Blu-ray is only an option for those wanting to use their PC for the high definition video format.

Video Cards: Video card technology seems to change every three to six months. If you aren't really doing any 3D graphics at all, then use the graphics that come with the motherboard - it's less expensive. If you need or want better graphics the things to consider are performance, the amount of memory on the card, output connectors and the version of Direct X supported. Those looking to do any gaming - and you know who you are - should really consider a Direct X 10 card with at least 1GB of memory.

External Connectors: Many upgrades and peripherals to computers now connect through USB ports instead of internal cards. Check to see how many external ports are available on the computer for use with your current and future peripherals. Look for systems that have USB 2.0 connectors. The newest computers are going to have USB 3.0 available. In general, a computer should have at least six USB 2.0 connectors. Also, media card readers that support various different flash memory cards for cameras and Smartphones should be included on any computer.

Monitors: What good is a desktop computer unless it also has a monitor? LCD, or flat panel, monitors are the standard now because of their reduced size and power consumption. The real issue now is more about size and cost of the LCDs. The price difference between 19-inch and 22-inch models make 22-inch the best overall value although 24-inch models are quickly dropping in price. I suggest that if you are considering getting a new monitor that you use the wider 16:10 format. This takes advantage of Windows 7's side-by-side feature and makes movie watching more enjoyable. If you watch a lot of movies on your computer monitor look for monitors with a near 2:1 ratio. This is best suited for movie watching.

Last, but not least, your computer must come with Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows 7 Professional. Do not purchase ANY computer that comes loaded with Windows 7 Basic. In addition, if you want to have more than 4GB of memory, you must use the 64-bit version of Windows 7. Good news - the 64-bit version doesn't cost any more than the 32-bit version!