How to Save Big Bucks When Buying a Desktop PC
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Posted On :
Aug-11-2009
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Article Word Count :
522
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Because of today’s economy, people continue to search for ways to save a few extra bucks here and there. The same goes when it comes to purchasing desktop personal computers. Those who are in need of just a basic machine that is able to perform the most common computing functions
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Because of today’s economy, people continue to search for ways to save a few extra bucks here and there. The same goes when it comes to purchasing desktop personal computers. Those who are in need of just a basic machine that is able to perform the most common computing functions (i.e. handling office files, web browsing, playing music, etc.) can actually get a fully functional PC for around $500, maybe even less. Below are some money-saving tips for all the bargain shoppers out there.
Power to the People
When deciding on a couple of reasonably-priced computer systems, one of the most important categories to consider is the processor. Most budget PC’s are equipped with dual-core processors, with either the Intel Pentium or the AMD Athlon X2 usually getting the nod. Although these processors may not be as powerful as their Core 2 Duo counterparts, they pretty much share the same technology. The only glaring difference is that the lower-powered processors have less clock speed, L2 cache, or FSB speed.
When it comes to memory, most budget computers will have at least 2GB of RAM. This is what allows the computer to function efficiently while running multiple tasks, or during intensive multimedia processes such as video editing. Having too little RAM will definitely slow down a computer when IE, Windows Media Player, Photoshop, and Outlook are opened all at once.
Storage is Essential
In terms of storage 300 – 400 GB should suffice for most general purpose users. This is the space one will need for storing all those downloads – may it be the thousands of songs from iTunes or the dozens of downloaded TV episodes and movies. Those who prefer HD-quality videos should be ready with bigger hard drives as these types of files will definitely take up a larger amount of storage space.
Some might argue that optical drives are a thing of the past. Although it is true that their functionality are slowly becoming obsolete, having at least one optical drive in the house is still a must. Folks also shouldn’t settle for mere DVD-ROM/CD-RW drives as DVD burners have become a standard requirement for most budget PC systems.
Integrated Graphics
Because of the fact that higher components will be more expensive and require more power from the computer’s PSU (power supply unit), most budget PC’s will have integrated graphics cards on board. These things are actually more capable than they seem as they are in fact good enough to support most applications on the computer. Although users won’t encounter any problems with web sites or Vista effects, they also shouldn’t expect to be able to play the most advanced 3D games on these cheap graphic cards. However, older games that are less graphic-intensive and don’t require excessive frame rates should be able to run on these budget PC’s without a hitch. After all, the objective here is to save on money; those who are looking to play more advanced games such as Crysis should have a bigger budget ready for a more advanced gaming system.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_How to Save Big Bucks When Buying a Desktop PC_2350.aspx
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Author Resource :
About the Author:
ITC Sales is a leading supplier of cheap laptops and computers including HP and Dell Laptops.
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Keywords :
dell, computers, cheap laptops, servers, laser printers, uk Dell Parts reseller, poweredge, inspiron, XPS, latitude, vostro, ,
Category :
Computers
:
Computers
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