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8/6/2019 Simplify the PC Buying Process
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Purchasing a PC is always a tough decision. It has become tougher now with the vast variety of
options present in the market. Read on to simplify the entire process of getting the best deal
for your hard-earned money!
What is the purpose of the machine? The first question to ask yourself is the purpose of the PC you are going to purchase.
Do you want to simply run MS Office for basic data entry work?
Do you want to run resource intensive programs like DTP or
development software?
Do you want a PC for your home for activities like browsing, watching
movies, listening to music andoccasionallyworking with heavy
applications?
Do you want to run it as a SERVER for ERA or Tally?
It is very, very important to have the use of the machine clearly defined in your mind.
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What is the importance of the CPU, RAM, Motherboard and SMPS when
buying a new PC? Let us explore the importance of the above components in detail.
When purchasing your new computer, your computer purchase will get divided into 4 parts
1. CPU (Processor) + Motherboard + RAM2. Hard Disk3. SMPS (Power Supply Unit)4. Keyboard+ Mouse +Monitor + Cabinet + UPS + Printer/Scanner
The Processor is the most important part of your decision. The RAM and
Motherboard depend on the Processor that you choose. E.g. A motherboard that
supports Intel processors is different from a motherboard that supports AMD
processors. RAM depends on the processor and motherboard that you choose.
A Hard disk is independent of all other parts of the computer.
SMPS (Power Supply Unit) is the most neglected part of the computer and the most
important. All hardware components inside the computer are very sensitive and simple
voltage fluctuations can kill your RAM or Hard disk. A good quality SMPS keeps the
components safe!
The rest of H/W components can be purchased according to your specific requirements.
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Common QueriesAMD vs. IntelIntel and AMD are the 2 major players in the market who manufacture processors. As we discussed
above, that the processor is the most important part of the computer, this decision is very important.
Most people still trust Intel since it is a known brand and Intel invests heavily
in advertisement. However, AMD is as much a capable brand as is Intel at a
somewhat lower price.
You can go with either platform. The only thing to keep in mind is that
motherboards for Intel and AMD are different. An AMD build will generally be cheaper for you to
assemble.
For general purpose use, Intel and AMD provide the same performance. AMD
computer setups are cheaper as compared to Intel for the same performance.
You can get a quad-core AMD processor for the price in which you will get a dual-core Intel
processor. Always look out for the processor with the latest architecture so that you can your PC
will not get outdated soon!
MotherboardsEven more confusing than deciding the processor is the decision to purchase the motherboard. With so
many different types of motherboards and confusing names, we generally leave this decision to the
shopkeeper.
However, there are few things that you can check before agreeing to buy a specific motherboard
1. No. of RAM slots This tells you the amount of RAM that you can use in your computer. It maybe that today you only want 2GB of RAM and decide to upgrade to 6GB after some months.
However, if your motherboard does not support more than 4GB RAM or does not have more
than 2 slots, then you will not be able to upgrade.
2. No. of USB ports Always make sure that your motherboard has 2 front facing USB ports andat least 4 USB ports at the back. This is generally the case in all motherboards today but might
not be in some older models.
3. No. of PCI slots These slots are used for adding extra peripherals like LAN cards, Audio cards.There should be at least 2 PCI slots.
4. SATA ports Hard Disks come in 2 variantsi. SATA Hard Disks
ii. PATA Hard DisksSATA hard disks are better because they have high read/write speeds
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It is always better to finalize the processor first and then look for a
compatible motherboard. For a particular processor, you will have only a few
choices with regards to the motherboard. Then, you can see the points discussed earlier and get
the motherboard with the features that you require!
RAMThe more RAM, the better! Adding more RAM is the simplest way to increase the performance of your
computer. Generally 2GB is more than enough if you have Windows XP and 4GB is recommended if you
have Windows Vista/7.
RAM can be categorized according to 2 aspects:
DDR 1/2/3The RAM can be DDR 1, DDR 2 or DDR 3. The version of the DDR RAM depends on the processor
that you use. The newest processors like Intel Core i3 can only use DDR 3 RAM and the older
processors like Pentium 4 only recognize DDR 1 RAM.
Clock speedThe clock speed of the RAM shows you how fast the RAM is. This is again dependent on the DDR
version. For e.g. DDR3 RAM comes in varieties of 1333MHz and 1600MHz whereas DDR 2 RAM
came in varieties of 533MHz and 800MHz.
Clock speed does not make much of a performance difference if we are using the computer for
performing routine tasks.
Whenever upgrading your RAM, please ensure that it is compatible with your
processor and your motherboard. RAM prices have fallen by around 50%
recently and you can purchase a single 4GB DDR3 stick for around Rs. 1800!
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SMPS (Power Supply Unit)An SMPS is the most important and often the most neglected part of the
computer purchase. With frequent power cuts and varying voltages, SMPS is
the component that provides a clean power stream and protects your sensitive
computer components from damage.
Though we get a bundled power supply with most cabinets, it is better to go in
for a branded power supply separately for extra peace of mind. This is especially true if you have extra
power-hungry components installed in your computer like dedicated graphic cards, multiple hard disks
etc.
Generally people are misled by the wattage of the SMPS. A power supply rated at 450W does not
provide the computer with 450W at different temperatures and loads. The efficiency of a SMPS is
given by the Efficiency Level Certification.
Lets say an SMPS has an 80 PLUS Bronze certification. This means that the particular SMPS provides
more than 80% efficiency at 20%, 50% and 100% of the loads. It is always better to opt for SMPSs which
have been certified. To check whether your SMPS is certified, you can visit
http://www.plugloadsolutions.com/80PlusPowerSupplies.aspx
Branded good quality SMPSs start from Rs 1500 onwards. If you have
purchased a dedicated graphics card, your bundled SMPS will not be able to
take the load of the computer. Depending on the power requirements of your computer setup, you
will have to purchase a SMPS which provides the required power. Better to be safe than sorry!
MonitorsCRT monitors have become obsolete now and the market is filled with affordable LCD monitors. There
are basically 2 types of LCD monitors available in the market
Widescreeno Widescreen monitors are generally built for home users who use their PC for
entertainment purposes and for professionals who work on software like Adobe
Photoshop where extra screen size is a plus.
o These monitors have an aspect ratio of 16:9 and 16:10. This simply denotes thewidth: height ratio of the pixels on the screen. An e.g. of this is the resolution 1366x768
which means 1366 pixels wide and 768 pixels high.
Squareo These are generally built for office work where screen real estate is not really needed.o These monitors have an aspect ratio of 4:3. An e.g. of this is the resolution 1024x768.
Choose the monitor according to your needs. Prices of monitors start from Rs
5000 and you can easily get a huge 22 monitor for less than Rs 9000!
http://www.plugloadsolutions.com/80PlusPowerSupplies.aspxhttp://www.plugloadsolutions.com/80PlusPowerSupplies.aspxhttp://www.plugloadsolutions.com/80PlusPowerSupplies.aspx8/6/2019 Simplify the PC Buying Process
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External USB Hard DrivesThere is always a possibility that your internal hard disk may get corrupted resulting in data loss. It is
better to have a backup of your important data stored on an external media. One of the best options to
store it in an external USB hard drive. External hard drives come in 2 categories
2.5 enclosure (without external power cable)
Small in size Easy to carry No external Power Adapter More Expensive
3.5 enclosure (with external power cable)
Larger Size Bulky External Power Adapter Cheaper
Buying a cheaper (but bulkier with a power cord)3.5 external hard disk is
only better when you are not planning to move the external hard much. If you
want real portability, then it is better to go in for a 2.5 external hard disk even though it will be a
little expensive. 2.5 external hard disks start from around Rs 2000 and are really handy tomove data from one place to another!
Printer and ScannersInstead of buying a separate printer, scanner and fax, it is always
better to go in for an AIO (All-In-One). A typical AIO has the
following features inbuilt
Print Scan Copy
These AIOs are suitable for all kinds of users; right from home
users to small businesses. Depending on the cost of the AIO, you might get additional features like direct
connectivity with your digital cameras so that you can print photos without transferring them to the
computer.
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Typically, the AIOs targeted towards home users contain a desktop inkjet printer. If you buy a higher-
priced model, you can get a laser printer too. The higher-priced models also feature networking
capability; wired (LAN) or wireless (Wi-Fi).
The AIOs targeted towards small businesses are also known as MFD (Multi-Function-Device). Along with
the features given above, they may also contain additional feature ofFax. Some of the higher-pricedmodels also give features like double-sided printing, stapling etc.
If you have a wireless router or a LAN setup, it is always better to pick up a
networking printer so you can share the printer easily with all the computers
on the network. Prices for All-in-one printers start from Rs. 3000 and will
come in handy when you have to take out a copy of a document or a printout at the last minute!
UPSUPS, which stands for Uninterrupted Power Supply, is the most important component outside your
cabinet. We constantly face power cuts and irregular voltages. Your computer isconstantly writing data to the hard disk and if there is a power failure at that particular
moment, you can lose the entire data or even worse; your hard disk may get
corrupted. That is why it is very important to have a UPS which can give you at least
10-15 minutes backup so that you can save your work and switch off your computer
properly.
It is necessary to choose your UPS according to the amount of power your computer uses. The VA rating
on a UPS gives you an indication of the backup time that UPS can provide. If you choose a UPS that is
underpowered, you will not be able to shut down your computer in time. Generally for home users, a
UPS rated 500-750 VA provides around 10-15 minutes of backup per PC.
Now, how do you make sure that the UPS you purchase will provide sufficient backup time for your PC?
In general, a normal PC without a dedicated graphics card consumes around 100-130W under heavy
usage. A 17 LCD monitor consumes around 20W. This gives us a max total of around 150W. As we saw
above, a UPS is measured by its VA rating. The industry standard is
Power in wattage = 60% of VA
Thus, a UPS with a 650VA rating can provide backup to a computer consuming 390W; which is more
than sufficient for the computer we used in the example above.
Generally, a UPS with 650VA rating, which is sufficient for powering your
computer+ monitor+ small inkjet printer costs around Rs. 1600. You may have to go with a higher
rated UPS (like 1kVA) if you have a dedicated graphics card installed in your PC. If you want to
buy a UPS for a small LAN setup with around 10 computers, you can go in for a 5kVA UPS for the
entire infrastructure!
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Different computer configurationsLow-end General Purpose Machine - Budget Rs 13,000-15,000
Components Description
ProcessorSingle Core processor like AMD Sempron 140(2.7Ghz, 1 core)/ Intel Atom
(1.8 GHz)
Motherboard Basic Compatible AMD/ Intel board with onboard VGA
RAM 2GB 1333MHz DDRIII RAM
HDD 500GB SATA
Monitor 15.6 widescreen LCD monitor
SMPS 450W
Keyboard +
MouseOptical Mouse+ KB combo
DVD drive 22X SATA Dual-layer DVD Writer
This kind of a configuration is suitable if you want a PC for internet browsing or working on Microsoft
Office. It is not suitable for working with heavy applications or work that requires lots of multitasking.
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Medium performance Machine - Budget Rs. 18,000-23,000
Components Description
ProcessorDual core processor like AMD Athlon II x2 250 or the newly launched Intel
Pentium Dual Core G620/ Core i3 2100
Motherboard Compatible board with onboard VGA
RAM 2GB DDRIII 1333MHz
HDD 500GB SATA
Monitor 20 widescreen LCD monitor
SMPS 450W
Keyboard +Mouse
Optical Mouse+ KB combo
DVD drive 22X SATA Dual-layer DVD Writer
The above configuration is suitable if you sometimes use applications which do a lot of multitasking but
generally use the machine for basic work like browsing the web or using Microsoft Office etc.
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High Performance machine (Server) - Budget Rs. 23,000-30,000
Components Description
Processor Quad core processor like the Intel Core i5-2400 or the AMD A8-3850
Motherboard Compatible board with onboard VGA
RAM 4GB DDRIII 1333MHz/1600MHz
HDD 500 GB/ 1 TB SATA
Monitor 20 widescreen LCD monitor
SMPS 450W
Keyboard + Mouse Optical Mouse+ KB combo
DVD drive 22X SATA Dual-layer DVD Writer
This configuration makes sense if you are going to use your computer as a server machine and going to
do heavy multitasking on the server.
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Misc. NotesIs a 3GHz processor is better than 2.5GHz processor?
Not necessarily!! There are a lot of different factors deciding the strength of the processor.The architecture of the processor will determine the faster processor, not the GHz.
Just as an example: A 2.6 GHz Core 2 Duo processor is much faster than a 3GHz Pentium 4
processor and a 2.5GHz Core i3 processor is faster than a 2.6 GHz Core 2 Duo processor. A quad
core processor will be better than dual core processors.
* Just for reference
Please dont buy the processor based only on the GHz that processor has.
Should we install 64-bit Windows if we have 4GB or more than 4GB of RAM?
Definitely!!If you have 4GB RAM or more, it will not be recognized if you have installed a 32-bit version of the operating system. 32-bit version of Windows only recognizes around 3GB of
RAM even if you have installed 8GB. Thus, you will not be able to utilize the entire RAM that is
installed in the computer!
Does a 64-bit Windows installation not support 32-bit applications?
Not necessarily!! Unless mentioned otherwise, Windows 7 64-bit version supports almostall applications running on Windows 7 32-bit without any problems. Windows 64 bit has a mode
called WOW (Windows-on-Windows) which allows it to emulate a 32 bit operating mode and
hence mostapplications dont face any issues.
Which companies are better for purchasing my computer components?
One important criterion that should be kept in mind when purchasing any component for yourcomputer is the A.S.S (After Sales Support) that the companies provide. Sometimes, a
companys hardware component may be a bit costlier than others but provide you with
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excellent support when there is some problem with the component. Given below is a list of
some recommended manufacturers who provide good warranty support along with excellent
build quality of products :
Component Type Company Name(s)
RAM Corsair, Transcend, Kingston,GSkill
CPU Intel, AMD
Motherboard Intel, MSI, Gigabyte, ASUS
Hard disk Seagate, Western Digital
SMPS FSP, Seasonic, Corsair, Cooler
Master, VIP
External USB drive Seagate, Western Digital
UPS APC
Speakers Altec Lansing, Creative, Intex
Note: The above list is simply indicative based on experience since after-sales-support is dependent on a
lot of factors.