Computer Buying Tips Beginner and Intermediate
Cost
$200 to $1299
Not since the used car lot has society created a shopping environement more comfusing than the computer store. Even worse than automobiles, computers basically all look alike, the only real difference are at a practically microscopic level.
Step 1 Use Your Imagination.
You can spend a lot of money on a computer, and you can spend even more on
computer components and features you don't really need. Before making a decision,
think ahead to what you see yourself doing with a computer. When you know what
you're looking for, it can be a lot easier to find.
Step 2 Educate & Evaluate
Before getting a computer, do a practice run through a few computer stores and on-site stores like this. Read the fine print, look for some of the key features listed below.
Processor type and speed. The central processing unit (CPU) is the heart of any computer, and most users start their shopping by focusing on a particular type of chip and the price range each offers.
Memory For top of the line Window's XP Pentium 4 and AMD Dimension 4 Machines 256-512MB or 2GB of either DDR or Rambus memory. For Celeron or Athlon 64-128MB with Windows 95, 98, Me is sufficient. Get more cooling fans as you increase your CPU Speed above 1.2GHZ and a Kooler type case for the extreme heat your cpu will generate above 2.0GHz since the faster the CPU the more heat it will be generate.
At the top of the line are Intel's Pentium 4, Athlon XP, and AMD's Dimension 4. These fast CPU's include special instruction sets for better looking in programs such as games, and they perform well for high-end scientific applications.
See INTEL Pentium
Video Cards at the high end are nVidia-2, 3 and 4 with 32MB AGP 64MB and their newest one 128MB with TV out enables you to use your TV set as a monitor for extreme Games Another excellent company is ATI Radeon Graphics 4X AGP Video Cards. At the mid range you can get away with 32-64MB Video Cards, and finally get at least a 16MB Video Card if you get a real cheap computer.
Sound Cards with only one company to explore. Creative Labs with an impressive line up. Go take a look at their site at
Creativelabs Click here
Modems begin with 56K V.90 that actually run at both 28.6 and 50.6K speeds. DSL(Digital Subscriber line) or Broadband costs $50-59 Dollars a month.
Is it worth the switch?
If you were likely to download large files or watch video clips and listen to Internet Radio. I’d go with DSL but with this new blazing speed it will cost 2-3 times as much as a dial up internet service at around $60 a month. An alternate might be the new Creative Labs V.92 Modem.
The downside of the speeder DSL is the risks of exposing your computer to far more hackers and online criminals than dial up service. So be sure to have get firewall security protection.
Step 3 Be Network Ready
Make your computer network-ready. New computers sometimes come with with a network (Ethernet) card, which lets you connect to DSL or a Cable Modem. It is better to use an Ethernet card for high speed modems and networking devices than to connect them thru the computer’s universal serial bus (USB) port.
Step 4 Is your computer upgradable?
Don’t pay for excess speed. You can slice hundreds of dollars off the price of your home computer by configuring it with a “lessor processor—one that is a tad slower a 2.0GHz processor versus one running at 2.53 can save you $280. or a non pentium processor such as Intel Celeron (with no math coprocessor on board the main chip or a Duron).
You can achieve similar price reductions by switching to a lower priced model like eMachines or Compaq’s lower Athlon line but that has drawbacks. The lower priced line model might be less likely to be upgradable or incorporate lower performance components like a 60 GB ATA 133 7200 RPM Hard Drive -a so so sound card or a no name speaker system.
Also a name brand matters little when it comes to speed and storage. Most new computers are fast but, unless you’re careful you can still waste money on a major- brand desktop. It’s possible to buy components and services you don’t need. Or you may economize by buying a low priced computer only to learn that that its expandibility is so limited that you’ll have to replace it too soon.
Step 5 Take the Custom Route
Intel Pentium® 4 Click here
Here at Capitol Upgradable Computers we have the powerful Intel Pentium 4 computers starting as low as $ 499 Whenever you buy, its worth picking and choosing the computers individual components to suit your needs and budget.
Unlike Dell we offer a 3 Years warranty on parts and labor at no additional charge on all Capitol Desktop Models and great software suites ranging from Microsoft to Word Perfect Productivity Suites software. Customizing with Capitol can save you up to $500. by eliminating components you don't need.
Finally, think twice before buying an extended warranty on a monitor in a big retail store, since most monitors come with a limited 3 Year parts and labor warranty.
Great Values for every day applications for home or office are
Pentium 4.6GHz and Athlon available at different clock speeds in either Pentium 4's and Athlon. When evaluating these systems
Educational Systems Athlon for home or college look for the fastest processor withing your budget.
Cheap Computers similar to XBOX. This a disposable low-end PC.
It isnt a good idea to buy one and think of upgrading it; upgrading it would take replacing the case, the motherboard, the hard drive, video card, 2PCI slots.
For a cheap PC it looks okay , but in the end: people will find it cheaper to just buy a a better $400-$700. PC rather than spend $200 for it and then spend another $400.00 in
fix-it-ups.
How to make a cheap $ 200 PC. It consists of the cheapest possible components, many of them not even serious enough to use in main-stream computers today.(These are obsolete parts and no longer sold as serious parts).
And this cheap system doesn't even have a modem. The case is small and uses power between 150 watts and 200 watts. This computer is slow and everyone will probably be connected to one ISP site with not many servers and Id be cautious about whether my internet connection will stay connected and the service will probably be sloooooow.
To get the wharehouse shareware you have to pay a $99 yearly fee up front for click-and-run software that is already available on the web free.
In the end its nothing new, or amazing. If you been shopping for parts lately, it pretty much fits exactly what you would expect for $200.
Step 6
3 Signs you need a new computer
New Computer check out this new guide
or our New Intel Pentium® 4 DeskNotebook® . Laptop shape, desktop power. Introducing the New DeskNotebook® Computer. Use the DeskNotebook® at the office or take it home. Click Here
For Gamers try the Extreme Gamer Series offering the best components available today.
Capitol Computers
7625 SW 106th Avenue
Kendall Computers 33173
1-800-600-8682
Capitol Home Page Click Here
 WebSpawner Page Machine |
| Wireless for Small Businesses |
| Computers for Education |
| Protect your Computer |
| Networking Basics |
Send E-Mail to: capitolupgradable@wespawner.comCopyright © 2000 . All Rights Reserved