Desktop Computer - Desktop Computer Product Guide
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN PURCHASING A DESKTOP COMPUTER
Let's start with the basics, namely what size and type (IBM-compatible or Macintosh) of desktop computer you'll choose to fit your particular needs and how they might differ in performance. Deciding whether to buy an IBM-compatible (Windows) or Apple really comes down to personal choice, advertising, word of mouth, and of course budget. But then there is the frustration factor to consider thanks to Windows Vista. Trepidation and loathing of the Microsoft Operating System (OS) just might send the faint of heart running in terror towards a Mac, but take heart PC fans, Windows XP based computers still perform quite nicely.
Both IBM-compatible and Apple's use Intel® Pentium Dual Core or Intel CoreTM 2 Duo processors and certain (IBM-compatible) manufacturers also offer AMD AthlonTM, SempronTM, and PhenomTM processors. Most of the AMD processors are offered on desktop at entry-level price-points; Hewlett Packard is marketing a desktop on-line, the HP Pavilion a6600z series (starting at $279.99), with an AMD Sempron or Athlon processer. Of course at this price point-point the PC is pretty basic, but it's still a powerful machine.
All of the principle computer manufacturers - Apple, Dell, Gateway, Hewlett Packard, Lenovo, Sony, and Acer - market desktop computers in varying configurations, however one would be hard pressed to find a true "desktop" computer anymore; meaning that most if not all "desktop" computers are configured as "tower" computers, which on sets on the floor. The towers ship in many different configurations with the mini-tower by far the most popular. But just as the all-n-one printer is now the one to have, all-n-one computers, such as the now legendary iMac desktop computer and my favorite the Dell XPS One, are now becoming more popular.
AT THE HEART OF IT ALL
Processors are of course the heart of any computer and for desktop computers there are only two manufacturers left, Intel and AMD. Both manufacturers offer a dizzying array of processor types for desktops, and each offers its own set of performance queues.
But of course the size of the processor has to matter because these little silicon wafers produce a lot of heat while going about the business of computing. Apple does not offer AMD processors with any of its desktop offerings, which is shame because desktops with AMD processors tend to cost $100.00 less than comparable Intel equipped units, yet they are every bit as powerful.
No matter which processor you choose, make sure it has enough power to perform the tasks you'll demand from your new desktop. Both Intel and AMD offer Duo-Core processors (the operating system sees the processor as two separate units) at varying bus speeds. Duo-Core and Quad-core processors out-perform their single core brethren by a substantial margin. Quad-core processors like AMD's Phenom and Intel Core Extreme can be found in high-end systems approaching and surpassing the $2000.00 mark.
The technology undergirding these processor families is too complex to cover within the context of this guide. For more information on processors, check out the Intel Microprocessor Quick Reference Guide, AMD Processor Guide, and Tom's Hardware 2008 CPU Chart. The good news is all new desktops, be they IBM-compatible or Apple, ship with Intel and or AMD Dual Core, Core 2 Duo, or Core 2 Extreme processors.
The more the desktop costs, the higher the performance curve and internal processor bus speed. Most users will not need the power a $2000.00 desktop with perhaps a Core 2 Extreme processor at 3.67GHz brings to bear. An entry-level desktop is fine for almost any everyday task.
For entry-level I recommend at least a 3.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor or AMD equivalent, which should be fine for everyday work; i.e. browsing the Internet, word processing, email, money management, etc. For these tasks you will not need the latest and greatest processor, but with a Core 2 Duo, you get admirable performance.
AT THE SOUL OF THE DESKTOP - THE HARD DRIVE
My rule of thumb for hard drives is always buy as much hard drive space as you can afford, you never know when it might come in handy. All of the major manufactures allow you to customize their on-line offerings, and upgrades to base hard drive offerings can usually be had for a minimal price.
Hard drive capacity has already reached the 1TB (terabyte) stage and prices per gigabyte continue to fall, so getting a hard drive with 640GB - 750GB of space with a reasonably price machine is not unreasonable.
And do get an extra (preferably external) hard drive to back up your new desktop system. Hard drives do crash and when they do you need to be able to recover at least your data.
A WORD OR TWO ABOUT RAM
Another rule of thumb: always buy as much hard drive space as you can afford. While Windows XP and Vista both create virtual memory on the hard drive to supplement RAM, virtual memory is not as fast as solid-state RAM. If you can afford to max your systems RAM, do so. Most systems will do fine with 1GB, but Windows Vista is a resource hungry beast, so 2GB is not unreasonable. And if you plan on building I multi-media workhorse 4GB is not out of the question, but even entry-level system can be had with 4GB of RAM, while higher end systems can be outfitted with up to an unheard of 18GB of DDR RAM.
KEY FEATURES AND TECHNOLOGIES
Other than the processor, hard drive and RAM, here are few more technology items to concern yourself with:
- Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports: What started out as a nice-to-have utility is now a must-have for any desktop computer. Almost anything you can attach to a computer from printers to mice, to keyboards, to external hard drives now has a USB connection, so the more a desktop has the better off you are. The average number seems to have peaked at 6 USB ports located at various spots around the computer body. But of course the beauty of USB is that you string up to 128 devices from a single USB port, but who wants to carry a USB hub with them no matter how small.
- IEEE 1394 port(s): A must have for connecting a digital camera and or camcorder to your desktop. All digital cameras have a mini IEEE 1394 or a UBS connection that allows you to "dump" images and or video directly onto the computer for use. Most mid-level IBM-compatible desktops and all Apple desktops have at least one IEEE 1394 port.
- Memory Card Readers: Most desktops now ship with at least an 8-n-1 memory card reader slot that allows to read data directly from a large variety of removable memory media such as SD-Media cards used in most, if not all digital cameras. It is very convenient to be able to remove the SD-media memory card from your digital camera or even camcorder, slip into the desktops card reader and have instant access to images and or video. Of course the readers are also great for sharing files with other, because any card inserted into one of the slots is assigned a drive letter like any non-volatile memory device.
- Multi-media features: More and more desktops are becoming desktop replacement, especially at the high-end and as such we are starting to see multi-media features once reserved for desktop festoon the ever populated side of laptops. It's not uncommon to see High Definition tuners and HDMI ports on some high-end desktops.
RECOMMENDATIONS
When I shop for a new desktop for personal use I look for the unit that will give me the most features and performance for my dollar and not unlike my choices for laptops computers I generally prefer a few manufacturers over all others: Hewlett Packard desktops, and Dell desktops. For business use my first choice is Dell, Hewlett Packard or a machine a build myself. Your choices however are most likely to be dictated by price vs. performance vs. ease of use so consider these brands as well:
Entry-level Medal Desktops (as of summer 2008)
At the lower end of the buying spectrum I-and PC Magazine-like the eMachines T3642 (starting price $350.00) featuring the AMD Athlon 64 4000+ processor at 2.6GHz, a generous 250GB hard drive, and 1GB of DDR2 RAM. This desktop is clearly aimed at buyers whose computing demands to do exceed the norm and as such is ideal for college students or those looking to surf the Internet or work process. The T3642 is strictly no frills and even comes with a ball mouse, but at this price point it makes for a solid entry-level computer.
I also like the HP Pavilion a6600z series and the lithe HP Pavilion Slimline s3600z (starting price $379.00). The essential difference between these two basic min-tower computers is the form factor; i.e. the Pavilion a6600z series is a traditional mini-tower design, while the Pavilion s3600z uses a slimline tower design, which limits it upgrade path. Processors; the a6600z series ships with the AMD Sempron dual-core, or AMD Athlon dual-core; while the SlimLine s3600z ships with either the AMD Athlon dual-core, or AMD Phenom triple-core, or quad-core processors.
Both PC's ship with HP patented Light- scribe drives that allow one to burn data on one side of the CD and print a label on the other, and the drive does both. Mate that with a standard 320GB hard drive and 2GB of DDR2 ram upgradeable to 4GB and you have a formula for a solid pair of entry-level PC's.
Mid-range Muscle Desktops (as of summer 2008)
Apple has made a startling come-back in recent years thanks to the popularity of the iPod and continued dissatisfaction with Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system. It helps that traditionally Macintosh computers have a lot going for them and the iMac 20" (starting price $1,199.00) is your ticket into the iMac club. Sporting Intel's Core 2 Duo processor at 2.4GHz, 1GB DDR2 RAM, a 20" TFT LCD screen, Mac OS X 10.5, and a 250GB hard drive standard, the iMac 20" all-n-one designed computer is designed for the user who demands simplistic performance.
More performance can be had from the iMac 20" 2.66GHz ($1,499.00).
Speaking of All-n-One designs, I also recommend the Dell XPS One (starting price $1199.00) and I am recommending the computer because I own one. Built around the Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 processor a4 2.2GHz, 2GB or DDR2 RAM, 250GB SATA hard drive and 20" display all standard, the Dell XPS One (see inside the screen) is a solid mid-range performer with a more than generous number of USB ports, one IEEE 1394 port, built-in speakers, 802.11 wireless, and cool touch screen audio controls.
Those in the market for a very fast mid-range digital media editing machine might want to give the Velocity Micro Edge E2250 (starting at $1999.00) a look. Built around an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 processor at 2.66GHz, 4GB DDR2 RAM, 750GB SATA hard drive, 512MB Nvidia GeForce 9800GTX video graphics card, and Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, the E2250 is designed for the multimedia enthusiast.
High-end Hell-Hound Desktops (as of summer 2008)
On the high-end of the spectrum, where money is no object, I have three units I like. First up is brand new HP TouchSmart IQ816t all-n-one PC with a generous 25.5" display. This beauty ships with an Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor 2.1GHz and side-loading Blue-Ray DVD starting at $2,099.00. This handsomely designed unit ships with a 4GB DDR2-667MHz RAM, (ATSC & NTSC) HDTV tuner, 750GB hard drive, 5-n-1 memory card reader, 802.11n wireless w/Bluetooth, 5 USB 2.0 ports, (1) IEEE 1394 Firewire port, and a seriously cool touchpad screen, all standard.
Next up is Apple's newest desktop maverick the Mac Pro (staring at $2,799.00). Built around (2) Intel Xeon (Harpertown) Quad-Core processor and chipset, 2GB DDR2 ECC memory, ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT graphics card w/ 256MB VRAM, and a 250GB SATA hard drive, this computer is built for the person who demands the performance born out of 8 cores of processing power! Apple claims that the new Pac Pro is the "fastest, most powerful Mac. Ever." And what's not to believe, after-all the handsomely designed desktop is sporting processors that used to be reserved for server platform costing upward to 10 times as much as the Mac Pro.
Rounding out the trio is the CyberPower Gamer Infinity Ultimate ($4399), built around the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 Quad-core processor, over-clocked to 3.46GHz. The silver and black tower also packs dual SLI XFX GeForce 8800GTX graphics boards w/768MB of RAM each, a LiteOn Blu-ray DVD drive that can store up to 25GB of data per disc, and up to 800GB worth of hard drive real estate in the form of (2) Western Digital Raptor SATA drives configured in a RAID O array and one SATA 500GB hard drive. Only serious gamers need apply!
ADDITIONAL SOURCES
There are number of places to gleam information on desktop computers. Most of these reside on the Internet, but I used off-line sources as well such as PC Magazine, PC World, Wired, and Network World magazines(s). Always do your research before heading to the local Best Buy or Circuit City to purchase your desktop computer. Chances are the sales representative will know just as much if not less than you about the desktop computers and only you can know what your particular computing needs are.
ONLINE SOURCES
When shopping for a desktop computer, your best bets are to check independent reviews such as those in PC World's Reviews and Rankings section. Also, visit you local electronics store and let your eyes help do the deciding. But also check out these on-line resources:
CNET 10-Ten Desktops: a good place to find general knowledge on anything computer-related. And the site offers price comparisons as well as basic reviews.
PC Magazine Desktop Buying Guide: an excellent course for all things computer-related. The site, which is a reflection of the magazine, offers in-depth professional reviews on all manner of computer products and services as well as electronics.
Top 5 Power Desktop PCs: another excellent source for professional reviews and information on computer-related products and services.
For reviews, specifically check out: ConsumerSearch.com and Viewpoints
