The moment we make the decision to renovate our computer station and therefore to buy a new computer, before rushing to the store it is better to know a minimum of the basic terms and have a smattering of computer science in mind so as to avoid scams and do not seem unwary . Today PCs and laptops do not have the exorbitant prices of a few years ago however, if you need some advice on which parts of a PC or on which type of laptop to buy, better be prepared at the time of purchase.
The moment you read a computer sales catalog or when you go to the shop to talk to a salesperson or a seller, the things to know before buying the new PC, concern the components from which it is made.
READ ALSO: Best laptops to buy
Things to know before buying a new computer
1) Processor
This is the brain of the computer, and it is also referred to as the CPU .
The main parameter with which the processors stand out from each other is the speed that is measured in gigahertz ; The higher the GHz value, the faster the computer.
Until a few years ago it was much easier to understand which was better or worse because the value was more or less unique.
Today the processors no longer put the speed in GHz in their name and one should not even consider one better than the other only on the basis of this value.
Today the differences between the various CPUs can be included in the number of cores present within the same : a quad-core processor will be vastly faster than a dual-core processor, and so on with the constant increase of the cores contained in the internal CPU.
To give examples of the best-selling processor types we have the Intel i3 for the new low-end machines, i5 and i7 used with the higher-end quad core processors and then the AMD Ryzen processors, which often boast processors with 6, 8 or 12 cores.
In addition, almost all modern CPUs also integrate a graphics chip inside them, so you can immediately take advantage of 3D animations and view some videos in high definition without having to buy a separate video card, excellent solution for office or studio PCs.
In another article we have already talked about the differences between i3, i5 and i7, I refer you to its reading to understand the differences.
READ ALSO: Buy the processor or CPU of the computer; what you need to know
2) RAM
RAM (Random Access Memory) is the computer's memory, used to temporarily store data and retrieve it faster without going through the hard disk (which is physical memory).
For RAM, the discussion is quite simple: from 4 GB of RAM you have a definitely fast computer, so let's never go below this value if we intend to use a PC with Windows 10.
A lower RAM slows down when you load many programs, so the more RAM there is, the better it is (a very good value for modern use is 8 GB, which adds little to the price of the PC but allows a significant increase in the number of programs) .
RAM is also upgradeable, so it is always better to check the number of available RAM slots and how many are already occupied so as to adjust for future updates.
READ ALSO: What is the RAM of your computer for and what is it
3) Optical drive, CD or DVD player and burner
The optical drive of the computer is now an optional laptop, but always present on Desktop PCs.
What should be considered, however, is not so much the speed of reading or writing but rather the formats supported for reading and burning: DVD-R, DVD + R, DVD - / + R, DVD - / + RW, DVD- RAM, Blu-ray, HD-DVD.
What I recommend is to have a burner that reads at least all types of DVDs.
Then consider that today there are also DL (Dual Layer) DVDs that can be written on both sides thus doubling the capacity.
Newer formats such as Blu-ray allow you to burn and watch high-definition videos or store much more data, but both burners and discs cost much more, not to mention the success of USB sticks and ultra memory cards capacenti has relegated the optical disc to a slow and inexorable decline.
4) Wireless network card
If your computer has a wireless card, you can access the Internet wirelessly and wirelessly by connecting directly to our WiFi modem router.
Modern network cards can be external (USB cards) or internal (PCI-E cards), in any case we will have to pay attention to the type of protocol and WiFi frequency supported: with 2.4 GHz we will have wide coverage but lower speed (especially in an area with a lot of interference), while with 5 GHz we will have less coverage but greater speed.
In addition to the frequency, it is advisable to keep an eye on the supported IEEE 802.11 protocols: IEEE 802.11n is the minimum standard and can work on both frequencies, while IEEE 802.11ac works only on 5 GHz and allows you to reach really high speeds (over 800 Mbps ).
READ ALSO: Difference between 802.11ac or 802.11n
5) Ethernet network card
The computer should have an Ethernet port, the one where you can insert the network cable for direct connection to the modem / router.
There are no big variations, even if with the arrival of the 1000 Megabit optical fiber it is better to focus immediately on models with a Gigabit Ethernet network card if we intend to use the cable.
6) Operating System
The operating system is software that manages the whole computer; the choice varies between Windows, Linux, Chrome OS and Mac OS.
When buying a new computer in shopping malls there will certainly be Windows pre-installed while in specialized stores the installation of Windows may be required.
The point is that Windows is an operating system that you pay for, therefore, in the pre-packaged computers, the user license is always present in the overall price.
Instead, when you buy the PC by choosing the pieces one by one and you also request to install Windows, most likely you will have a counterfeit operating system (if its price is not present on the invoice).
More experienced people buy computers without an operating system to save money and install it yourself also because today you can buy a Windows 10 license for a few Euros.
7) Storage unit: Hard disk or SSD
The disk is the physical memory where data and files such as music, videos, photos and documents are stored.
On some recent PCs or smaller laptops, instead of the disk we can find an SSD or Solid State Drive and we have seen in another article what it means to have a Hard disk or an SSD.
In a nutshell, the SSD has no moving parts, is less likely to break and is much, much faster than the hard disk (10 to 50 times faster!).
For this reason we can say that if you have to buy a new computer, the first thing to look at is if the SSD is present next to a classic hard disk and not to buy absolutely a new PC that only mounts mechanical hard disks (maybe we can also buy it separately, but we will have to get a new Windows license anyway).
READ ALSO: Basic requirements for a good PC to choose
8) Video card
This is the part of the computer that deals with how animations, images and colors are displayed on the screen.
On many modern CPUs the video processor is integrated internally (in fact we speak of GCPU), but usually they offer minimal performance for the interface, animations and video playback.
If we intend to play or work with complex 3D graphics or photo editing programs, it is much better to focus on a dedicated video card.
In general, a video card can be produced by NVIDIA or AMD, the choice is all based on when you want to spend and when you are fond of one brand compared to the other.
The basic ports today are: DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort and, optionally, VGA for older monitors (it is now disappearing).
With regard to acceleration, words such as: pixel shader, vertex shader, rendering (rasterization), anisotropic filter and antialiasing filter, which you have to worry about only if you have to play the latest generation games, can come out.
In another in-depth article, the guide to buying a video card or graphics card.
In another article we also wrote what are the specifications and hardware requirements of a video game computer.
For video game enthusiasts and for those who work with 3D graphics programs, the video card is one of the most important parts of the computer and you need to read the various online guides provided on the Web.
In general we try to choose only high-end video cards (GTX for NVIDIA and RX of AMD) and with at least 4 GB of video memory.
The technological evolution of this sector is always in constant ferment and it is also possible to spend considerable amounts on high-level graphics cards (over € 700).
READ ALSO: Best video cards for PC
9) Sound card
If the video card allows you to see what is happening on your computer, the sound card brings sound
on the connected loudspeakers.
It is generally integrated into the motherboard and is already fine unless you plan to use music processing and recording programs.
The only thing to check is that it has sockets for 5.1 audio support, a headphone input (maybe also on the front case for convenience) and a microphone input.
READ ALSO: Which PC speakers and 2.1 speakers to buy for better sound
10) Other components
Other components of the computer that we can take into consideration are: the fans, the motherboard, the power supply, the keyboard and the mouse on which it is not necessary to deepen because there are fairly widespread and uniform standards in the price.
As for the motherboard, there is the question of compatibility between the motherboard, CPU and RAM, to see which models work together.
While as regards the power supply, we must worry about it if we assemble a PC on our own or we must change the one already present in the pre-assembled one: it must deliver enough power (in Watts) for all the components already present and future, so better choose it of good quality.
To conclude, I venture to say that a mid-level desktop PC should never exceed 600 Euros while an excellent laptop can be bought with around 700 Euros.
Much cheaper than shopping malls and pre-installed PCs, they are the smaller computer stores that sell the computer with the possibility of choosing individual pieces from a catalog and in this regard I wrote an article to answer the fateful question: Better to buy a preassembled computer or a personalized pc "> How to choose the parts of the new computer to assemble
