Desktop Personal Computer Checklists:

Budget PC

Multifunction PC

High-performance PC

Multimedia PC

Desktop Personal Computer (PC) Buying Guide - Specifications

Processor (CPU) 

The processor is the brain of a desktop PC. How quickly a CPU functions is measured as clock speed. Today, even budget processors can have a clock speed higher than 3Ghz. However, overall computer performance is also affected by the L2 cache and front side bus (FSB). The L2 cache holds data for the processor and can be a bottleneck to performance. An L2 cache size between 512 KB to 1 MB is adequate for most systems. An L2 cache size of 2 to 4 MB is best for high-performance systems.  The FSB is the wire connection between the processor and other computer components. A budget system can be purchased with a bus speed of 400 to 533Mhz. Upgraded systems should have a bus speed of 533 to 1066Mhz.

The latest technology involves the use of dual-core processors which take advantage of a process called multithreading. For high-performance systems, dual-core processors can be a smart choice. However, many video games and other applications must be written to take advantage of the dual-core technology. 

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Memory (RAM) 

If you want your personal computer to run properly, you need sufficient memory. With Windows Vista, at least 1 GB of RAM is recommended, but 2 GB is optimal. With Windows XP, 256MB of memory is plenty to load most software, but if you want to run several programs at once, 512MB to 1GB of memory will improve performance. A gaming system should have between 1 - 4GB of RAM. New systems should use DDR-SDRAM and DDR2-SDRAM memory. Avoid outdated RDRAM and SDRAM technology when purchasing a desktop PC. 

How quickly memory is accessed also affects computer performance. The speed at which memory is accessed ranges from 200 Mhz to 667 Mhz.

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Storage – Hard Drive 

The internal hard drive is the main storage area for games, programs, and files. 40 to 80 GB hard drives are sufficient for most desktop computers. Storing digital photos, digital video, or gaming programs may necessitate 120 to 250 GB hard drive space. System performance, especially for 3-D games, is affected by how quickly the hard drive retrieves data. A spindle speed of 7,200 RPMs ensures the best performance.

Serial ATA (SATA) is the rising interface technology. It's performance isn't noticeably different than the established IDE interface, but Serial ATA simplifies the installation of hard drives and consumes less power. 

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Storage – Optical 

Many PCs come with a DVD/CD-RW that plays DVDs and CDs and saves (burn) data onto a CD. The standard for speed is 48x for CD-RW and 16x for a DVD. DVD burners allow you to create your own DVDs and are often included in a system package, or can be added at a reasonable cost. However, unless you're planning to create your own digital movies, including a DV0 burner is not a necessity. A good DVD burner should incorporate the DVD+/-R/RW format.

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Monitor 

Two monitor types are available for desktop PCs: CRT and LCD. CRT monitors are the traditional bulky monitors that have been around since the first desktop computers. LCD monitors are a flat panel display that uses liquid crystal, which is the same type of display used on digital cameras. CRT monitors have three advantages:

• Better color clarity

• Better resolution adjustment

• Lower priced models

However, the gap between CRT and LCD is decreasing for all of these items. With the advantage of weight and size, LCD monitors are a good choice for nearly all home systems.

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Video (graphics)

Unless you're looking to buy a PC for high-level gaming or video performance, the standard video (graphics) card included with a new desktop may be sufficient for your needs. If you are interested in upgrading, the card should use PCI-Express as the interconnection technology. PCI-Express transfers data at a higher speed that previous interface technology. An upgraded card should support DirectX9 and have a minimum of 128MB video memory. For even better performance upgrade to 256MB memory. Basic video cards should have a clock speed near 300Mhz. Expect 700Mhz or more for the most advanced, and expensive, cards. Several advanced video cards have a TV-Out port to connect your computer to the television. The below list should give a general idea of what to look for in the categories shown..

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Sound 

Standard sound cards, such as Sound Blaster Live! or Sound Blaster Audigy, are sufficient for most desktop PCs. If high quality sound is important to you, upgrade to a card that supports 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound, which separates audio into  tracks, including a bass track for subwoofers. If you are interested in recording or realtime chatting, you will need a card with full-duplex capabilities. 

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Interface 

USB 2.0 and FireWire (IEEE 1394) connectivity to peripheral devices (i.e. printers, digital cameras) is becoming standard for current technology. Most systems come with a minimum of 6 USB ports. Except for a basic budget system, you will want to have 1 or 2 FireWire ports. 

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Internet/Network 

How you connect to the Internet or a home network will dictate whether you need modem, Ethernet and/or wireless capability. If you rely on a phone line for your Internet connection, you need to have a 56Kbps modem port.  High-speed Internet or a home network requires either Ethernet 10/100 Mbps or wireless 802.11 b/g connections. Generally, desktop PCs do not include all three so you may need to pay an additional cost to ensure that you have the connectivity that you require. 

Bluetooth technology enables wireless networking between computers, cell phones, PDAs, and network devices. Bluetooth networking is limited in range and generally slower than other wireless 802.11 b/g connections. 

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Digital Media (Memory Card) Reader 

Digital camera or recorder images are stored using flash memory. Most desktop PCs generally have 5 or more ports into which a memory card or transfer cable can be inserted to transfer photos or video from the digital device. The cable connections for digital cameras or recorders vary by brand and model, which is why PCs have multiple ports for digital image transfers. A system with 5 ports is referred to as a 5 in 1 digital media (memory card) reader. A 12 in 1 card reader would have 12 ports. If you're planning to download photos or videos, check the transfer cable or memory card on your digital device to make sure that the PC you wish to buy has the digital media port that you require.

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