Computer Hardware

Buying guide

Are you looking to buy a new or used desktop computer or laptop computer? Keep in mind that a computer is only as good as its weakest part, so it's important to make sure that you get the best hardware possible for your new machine. In this section, we'll take a close look at what features you should look for (and avoid) when it comes to the latest computer hardware. We cover everything from hard drives (both internal and external), CD burners and DVD burners to computer memory, sound cards and video cards.

Family Use

The kind of hardware you need for your family PC depends on what your family uses the computer for. If your family only uses it to surf the Internet and send a few e-mails, there's no need to buy high-end hardware. However, if you have family members who love to play 3-D games, then you'll want to consider upgrading your graphics card. If your family downloads lots of music and movies, it's definitely a good idea to grab an external hard drive. External hard drives are also a great place to store digital photos of your family.

For the Businessperson

If you only use your computer for business purposes, it isn't necessary to upgrade your computer with a high-performance sound card or video card. Unless you play a lot of video games or music on your computer, you're better off saving your money. Instead, use that cash to upgrade your *computer memory[Computer Memory], also known as RAM. This will make your computer run faster, which is great when you're working on a deadline. As the saying goes, time is money.

Another good idea is to buy some kind of removable storage unit, like a USB flash drive. You never know when your computer might crash, and it's always a good idea to keep your important documents backed up.

For the Student

It's becoming increasingly common for PCs to come equipped with optical drives like CD burners and DVD burners, but not all computers (particularly laptops) have this capability. If you're a broke student, you'll definitely want to be able to burn CDs and DVDs. Sure, it's technically stealing, but almost every college student does it. Besides, you can try to justify it by promising to buy the actual CDs and DVDs as soon as you graduate and get a job.

If you're like many students and your computer is your sole multimedia center, you may want to consider grabbing a TV tuner. This will allow you to watch television on your computer, which will free up the $500 you otherwise would have spent on a TV. Now you can spend it on textbooks (or more likely, beer).