What You Need to Know When Buying a New Computer JackaboutComputers.com

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2 If it s been a while since you bought your last computer, you could probably use a quick refresher on what you need to know to make a good purchase. Computers today are a much larger part of our life than we ever thought possible when we were kids. Think about how increasingly dependent we ve become on them in just the last 5 years. I m going to begin with the same point with which I ll end this. Because it s that important. And that point is You re about to purchase a product on which you ll spend hundreds if not thousands of hours working. It s a product that you will boot up thousands of times. You will be intimately involved with this piece of equipment for years if you make the right purchase. If you make a bad purchase, you ll be buying another one soon. Your new computer can be a source of joy or absolute misery for you. That s why you should never be in a hurry to make a purchase. Begin looking at ads. Get used to spotting the critical things you ll want to know about up front for every machine: 1. The processor (I show you how to find out about them) 2. The RAM 3. The hard drive (or SSD). (Choices for this explained below.) There are other considerations, but if you don t get these three things right, you should probably wait and have someone help you make the decision. Note also I m sharing a shopping form for keeping track of the computers you may be looking at buying. Take the form to the store (or look online) and make notes about the computer as you shop Once you ve narrowed your decision to two or three machines, Google each of them and read some reviews. That will also help you get up to speed on what s important about making a good purchase. So do take the time to read this. While going over this report might take you a few minutes, it will be worth the time. 2

3 What We ll Cover You don t need to know a ton of technical stuff to make a good choice. We ll break down the basics of what you need to know so you ll understand what they mean. First, we ll talk about the brain of the computer the processor. It is also called the CPU (for central processing unit) and also sometimes referred to as the chip. What do you need to know that makes for a good processor? Where do you find comparative information about processors? We ll cover that. We ll show you a free on-line resource that will compare every processor that s out there right now so you can look and see how the one you may be looking at stacks up against all the others (and you can see how your old one looks against newer ones). Then we ll cover RAM and what it is. How much do you need? Why is it important? We ll look at a few other things that should factor into your decision, but first, you need to know how to find out how the computer you re working on is equipped. How to Find the Critical Features and Information About a Computer If you re buying a new computer it s good to know what your old one was all about. But where do you find that? And where do you find out what stuff the new one has? The easiest way is to look in the lower left part of your keyboard for your Windows button between the Ctrl and Alt buttons (circled). Then look in the upper right hand corner of your keyboard for a Pause key or a Pause Break key (circled). If you hold your Windows key down and tap your Pause Break or Pause key once, you ll have a screen pop up that will give you all kinds of information about your machine. (See the illustrations below) This works in Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8, and 10. 3

4 Not all keyboards have the upper right Pause Break or Pause key. If that s the case, then, do the following: Windows XP and Windows 7 Click on your Start icon in the lower left corner of your screen. Right click on Computer or My Computer in the right column. Go down to the bottom and click on Properties. For Windows 8 and Windows 10 Right click on the start button (lower left corner) and click on System. Windows XP and Windows 7 machines will show a pop-up that looks slightly different than Windows 8 and 10 machines, but they will convey the same important information. You ll see examples of both below, as we look at the processor information of both machines. For our purposes, we want to find the processor s name (model) and the speed at which it runs. We also want to know about the Installed memory, or RAM and whether it s a 32-bit or a 64-bit operating system. I m not even sure if you ll find a 32-bit system out there, but whatever you do, don t buy a 32-bit system. Now that you know how to access the critical information about a computer, let s see what those elements are and why they are important. The first of which is the processor. The Processor The processor (also called the chip ) is the brain of the machine. If you get a good (fast and powerful) processor, your programs will boot up and run faster and your computer will run more efficiently. If you spend a lot of time at your computer, a fast processor is an absolute joy. A slow one that hangs on programs and pauses video to buffer is misery. For our purposes, I ll be showing you information about two different computers. 4

5 My Old, Slow Computer This machine is around 5 years old. It s still a good working machine, but the processor is too slow and I need more RAM. Check it out You can see it has an Intel Celeron 450 processor (the red circle) that runs at 2.20GHz per second. It has 3 GB of RAM (also called Installed Memory and Memory. This is the information you get when you click on Start, click on Computer and scroll to bottom and click on Properties. Or, just hold down Windows key and tap Pause/Break key as we told you above. Those four arrows point to critical factors you ll learn about as we look at the two machines we ll examine. Don t worry if you don t know what any of that means yet. I ll break these things down so you can understand them, and once you do, you ll easily see why they re important. And because of that, you ll be a much wiser shopper. Come back to look at these two screenshots after you ve read through page 10 and they will make much more sense to you. Next, let s look at a better-equipped computer. 5

6 The Computer I m Working on Today My newer machine is an Intel i Windows 10 is the operating system. (The old one is running on Windows 7.) Note that the new machine runs at 3.4 GHz. It s faster than the old one and has four times the RAM (12GB) than the old one. Note that if you re shopping for a new Windows computer it will be a Windows 10 machine, and to access that information you need, just right-click on the start button in the lower left corner ( ), then click on System. You can do this on machines that are in the stores where you re shopping. Now let s see what the information means. Three Key Factors Determining the Power of a Processor 1. The Processor Speed The first critical factor of a processor is the speed (clock speed) at which it runs. 6

7 This is measured in Gigahertz (GHz), which is a measure of the electronic cycles per second. The larger the number of GHz, the faster the chip can process. You can see in the information above that my old machine has a 2.20GHz processor and the new one has a 3.40 GHz processor. That alone tells us the new one is 50% faster than the old one. But the new one is way faster than that. That s because my new one has a newer type of processor that has four cores, hence it s called a quad-core processor. It s another critical factor of performance. 2. Number of Cores The number of cores a processor is a big factor in determining how efficiently the processor work. Each of the cores acts as a separate execution unit, meaning each one can launch programs. If you are planning on multi-tasking with your computer, you should consider the number of cores your processor has. More cores help the computer multi-task more efficiently. Many of the processors you will see when shopping will be Intel (80% market share in November 2017). Your options will be generation i3 s, i5 s, or i7 s. The information about the processor below is for an i quad-core processor. For each of the processors there are different characteristics for laptop versions versus the desktop version. You will typically be able to buy faster and betterperforming processors for desktops at a cheaper price. 7

8 Laptop processors are generally slower for your money. For now, know this An Intel Core i7 on desktops will usually have 4 cores and hyperthreading as well as having a larger cache, which helps with repetitive functions. If you can afford the i7 machine over the i5, my suggestion is to do it, but do remember to keep an eye on the SPEED of the processor you re buying first. That processor is a BEAST! SIX Cores! Hyperthreading at up to 3.8 GHz! Keep reading to find out how you find out how many cores a processor may have. So, in looking back at the two computers we re comparing, the Celeron chip on my older computer is a single-core processor. It struggles and hangs if I try to run multiple programs. It takes much longer to boot up. Despite the fact I use it as a backup and keep it in top operating condition, it can only work as fast as a single-core processor (running at 2.2 GHz per second) can run. It is so slow compared to the newer machine that it s frustrating to use it at all. The wrap-up for the area of core count is that you absolutely should know the processor s core count, and the more cores means more efficient performance. Whatever you do, don t buy a single-core processor. 3. Thread Count So not only is my newer one 50% faster (3.40GHz vs GHz faster), it is significantly more efficient in that each of the cores has what is called dual threading capability. Multiple thread count allows for individual application threads to be running simultaneously in each core, so it s almost like the newer computer has 8 little processors running. All at the same time. That s big. There is a huge difference in how well these two machines run. 8

9 You may notice the term logical cores, in some ad copy for a computer. It refes to a machine that has dual-threading capability. Simply put, if 4 cores of a processor each have dual threading capability, then we would have 8 logical cores. (4 cores times 2 threads per core renders 8 logical cores.) Just don t get hung up on the terms. The gist of the Thread Count is that it helps with performance. If the processor you re looking at has hyperthreading, it s a really good thing. So, to wrap up quickly in this area: GHz (gigahertz) is a measure of how fast the processor can run, and obviously more is better. This is where you pay extra. Faster machines have faster processors. You will notice that desktop machines generally have faster processor overall than laptops, and if laptops have really fast processors, they typically cost a lot more money. So just know that if you buy a laptop, you want to pay close attention to the number of cores and the threading capability. Because you processor speed will be slower, you need these extra features. If you compromise in this area to save money, expect to have a slow-booting, slowloading machine. You can t overcome a slow processor. Core Count is a virtual measure of the processing capability, and more cores mean improved performance as each core in the chip operates on its own circuitry, so it s like having multiple processors. I recommend a quad-core chip if it s affordable. Hyperthreading refers to the ability of each core to start multiple applications. (Because each thread is sharing circuitry in the core, it s not exactly like doubling the core s efficiency, but it still translates into a much-improved processing efficiency). The processor is a critical factor in determining the price of the computer. You should buy the best processor you can afford. This usually means the fastest with the most number of cores. So what are more key components that factor into the decision you ll make to get you the computer you need? RAM ranks up there at the top 9

10 RAM Another Key Consideration Another determining joy factor for your new computer is the amount of RAM it may have. RAM is also called installed memory or physical memory. RAM is an acronym for Random Access Memory and it s the main memory that is available to run the Sticks of RAM inside your computer programs on your computer. If you don t have sufficient RAM, you ll have difficulty running several different programs simultaneously. Your computer will slow down or hang if you re pushing the limits of your RAM. This happens because once you exceed those RAM limits, it begins to swap out memory from your hard drive, which is a different type of memory altogether. It is designed to store data and it doesn t run programs real well. While RAM once was one of the key drivers upping the cost of new computers, it s now a comparatively cheaper component of the cost equation. My suggestion is to buy up on RAM. It s miserable not having enough. How Much RAM Do You Need? As our computers have become faster and more powerful, the programmers have responded accordingly and made their programs do fancier things with more sophisticated processing demanding greater computing capacity. The typical programs of today require a lot more RAM to run them than they did six years ago. Consequently, the base-line needs of RAM today are probably around 8 GB. My suggestion would be to go ahead and get a minimum of 8GB. If you see a machine with that amount or 12, 16, or more and can afford it, get it! The demands the programmers place on the RAM of computers will only increase as our technology advances. If you aren t going to put your computer through a bunch of performance hoops and are going to be using it for and Facebook, you don t need to buy up on RAM. Right now, 8 GB is plenty, but I d suggest buying up a little on RAM. 10

11 Solid State Drive vs. Hard Disk Drive Another important consideration you ll need to make is how much storage space you want to purchase with the computer. It s affordable now to buy a one terabyte hard drive. My suggestion is to buy a much larger disk than you think you need if you can afford it. There is a newer type of drive called a solid state drive (SSD). Because SSD s use integrated circuit assemblies to keep memory current persistently, they are faster than the electromechanical magnetic disks which have movable read/write heads. Research tells us that close to 75% of all the data and files on our computer are accessed no more than once a year, so a 500 Mb SSD drive might be to your liking. As I mentioned earlier, SSD s access your data faster, which can help a laptop (with a comparatively lower processor speed) perform more efficiently. I wouldn t get too worked up if you can t find a Solid State Drive if you re using this for personal use and you beef up where you could on other features. SSD s are a nice thing, but not as critical as the processor speed, the core count, or threading. Laptop or Desktop? A lot of people are using laptops as their primary computers and that s a personal decision you ll make based upon several factors. The obvious mobility factor allows you to take your laptop anywhere. If you go with laptops, find out about the battery. (Remember that if you choose a well- For desktops, you pay less for the same speed and they re better suited for media editing and other high-end activities like gaming. Desktops can be upgraded more easily and cheaply and are easy enough to work on that in many cases, you can repair your own. For your laptop, consider the keyboard. Some have 10-Key pads built in, which can be really handy if you frequently have to crunch a bunch of numbers. Be careful buying laptops online. It s a good thing to physically touch the keyboard and check out the display area size on a laptop. The size of the screen and the keyboard are highly subjective personal decisions. Are you wanting the touch-screen feature? (See more about that below.) 11

12 Do You Really Need Touch Screen Capability? Touch screen capability may seem cool, but it carries a huge drawback for laptops. Even if you aren t using your touch features on the screen, this functionality eats up quite a bit of extra power from your battery. And while we re talking about batteries for laptops, be sure to note the battery life time if this is critical for you. It probably is if you re a college student who takes their computer to classes. On the other hand, if you re using it primarily at home and don t mind having a shorter battery life, don t worry about this feature. If I m buying a laptop, I want to use every bit of power for extending computing time when I m not plugged in. That s the whole reason to have the laptop its mobility. For me, I wouldn t worry about touch screen. But if it s for little kids, maybe the touch screen is a good idea. Finding Out a Little More About the Processor Now that you know about processors and RAM, it begs a few more questions. If you re looking to upgrade from your old computer, how can you tell if your new processor is really an upgrade? How do you find out the core count and threading capability of a new computer you re considering? How does the new processor compare with others out there and more importantly, the one from which you re upgrading? The information I showed you about my new processor was that is an Intel i running at 3.40 GHz per second (see the highlighted area below). But it didn t tell us the core count or if it had hyperthreading capability. Those are both really important factors in your decision, so here s how you find out how to rate a processor.. 12

13 First, you need to know the model of your processor, which in this case is Intel Core i7. The 4770 is the model number. The speed of the processor is 3.4 GHz. Be sure to use all this information in your lookup. Intel is the chipmaker and they make different i7 chips. This is the 4770 model that runs at 3.4GHz. So this processor information is Intel i at 3.4GHz. How Can You Rate a Processor? The two examples of processors I showed you are made by Intel. I didn t talk about AMD, who also does a significant amount of the computer chip business. But you can find out about those processors just as easily. I am including a shopping form with this little publication so you can take it with you to shop and make notes about the specific machines you may see in your trip. You can find out about a processor on a computer while you re in the store. (The tags won t often tell you all the information you ll need to rate your processor, like core count and hyperthreading.) The store might not let you browse on their computers, so you may have to make notes on the computers you see in the stores and do this final bit of research at home or on your cell phone. See if they ll let you use the computer you re looking buy to find out information about the processor. If you can browse on it, use that computer. 13

14 If they don t, then make your notes and get all the information about the processor so you can look it up later. The 3 key points to look up are: 1. The maker of the chip (Intel does between 75 to 80% of the PC chip business) 2. The model number of the chip is second 3. The speed at which the processor runs (expressed in GHz per second) Having that information, next we ll go to a website called CPU Benchmarks that rates information about every processor made. Remember, CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. It s a great site. I ll show you how to find your processor here. Using Google and CPU Benchmarks to Find Exactly What You Need The easiest way for you to use this site is to go to Google and do a search in the bar listing two things: your processor information (the maker, the model, and the speed), and in this case, I d enter CPU Benchmark after the name of the processor. So your Google search would look like this if you were looking for this processor.. (Remember to include the at sign (@) or at before the speed of the processor) 14

15 That search brought this up today And clicking on that (the blue print) brings this up (4 cores and 2 logical cores per physical core is the important information about this processor.) I ve been very pleased with this processor. I do a lot of work with audio and video editing and it performs quite well. My suggestion is that you purchase a computer with as fast a processor as you can comfortably afford with either a Core i5 or a Core i7 processor if you re going to be doing a lot of video and audio editing. If you re just going to use the computer for Googling things and watching movies and videos on Facebook, you don t need to buy the fastest, most expensive processor the store has, but I sure wouldn t buy the cheapest they have either. Remember that you re buying the computer you ll be working on two years from now. As fast as things change in technology today, who knows where the baseline needs will be in two years? 15

16 Shopping for Your New Computer (Look at the form I include with this) First, Google the stores you ll be shopping to see what they have in your price range. You can also shop online, but if you re picky about the keyboard on which you ll be typing, I d suggest buying in-store so you can feel it. Pick a computer, do your research on the processor, the core count, the RAM, etc. Use the form that came with this or get it here:. Pick at least one more so you can look at the differences and evaluate them based on what you ve read. Go back and read about something you entered on the sheet if you aren t clear. Sometimes it takes re-visiting information like this to get it down. Last thing is to read all the reviews you find about the computer of your choice on Google. See what others think about what you re about to buy. Once you ve done that, you re ready. If you can, stretch a little and buy a good machine. Before you compromise on computing power to save a few dollars, remember this old saying from Aldo Gucci that I ve found to be very true especially with computers. The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory. You will boot your new computer up hundreds of times. You will start thousands of programs and applications. You will watch untold numbers of videos. The frustration of waiting longer than you want for stuff to run on your computer will be experienced thousands of times if you buy unwisely. Choose well. Good luck with your purchase! Leave a comment at the website if this helped you out. And remember, don t let it be said you don t know JackaboutComputers! 16