Desktop PCs

The only knowledge you will have when you are out to buy a desktop computer will be the type of desk top you wish to acquire. In the desktop market however you will find wide range of configurations, different shapes and sizes and fast changing specifications of features.

The following guide has been prepared to ensure that you are able to arrive at the right specification of the desired features. Links are provided with each feature to arrive at variety of models available with that feature.

Find by features

Processor- CPUs are the main feature which decides what you can do, how much you can do and how fast you can do with your system. Processor specification states the brand, the processor type and the processor speed. The common understanding till some time ago was that higher the processor speed better will be the performance. Not so any longer. The major processor manufacturers Intel and AMD have revolutionized the processor market with dual core and quad core processors all in a single piece of silicon.

Single core chips like AMD Sempron, and Intel Celeron D don't cost much and are configured in low priced desktops because of their low performance and low speed. They still run the show the reason being most software is designed for execution on a single thread (one stream of data) or processor core.

The AMD Athlon 64 isn't fast but it satisfies all computing requirements. The price too has come down with the launch of newer processors.

Dual processor is two processor cores on a single piece of silicon. The advantage of having multiple processors is ability to handle more than one thread. When multiple applications are running at a time, the multiple processors are parallel processing and this increases the speed of performance. Customers intending to multi task, 3D gaming with desktops must insist on dual core processor type.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 -

The Intel Core 2 Duo processors are fast and power efficient and can run the most intense applications. It is configured in low end systems as well as in gaming PCs.

Processor speed is another specification of the processor that needs attention before purchase, as this feature too determines what use you can put your desktop to. The processor executes instructions received from RAM. So if the desktop is intended for complicated calculations and drawings for graphic images and games a faster processor will be required.

1.5 to 2 GHz- Processor speed in this range would suffice the needs of students or small offices.

2.2 to 2.7 GHZ

2.8 to 3.4 GHz- Processors with 3 GHz and higher speeds like Pentium 4 and equivalent AMD processors are ideal for desktop multimedia and Gaming PCs.

Memory- The next in the feature list of all desktops is the Memory. The specifications state the space and type. Space mentioned in MBs or GBs. There should be enough memory to run all the software you intend to use, so check out the requirements of the intended software before you decide on space specification of RAM. Larger the memory, faster the processor will operate as it permits larger amount of data to be transferred.

1 GB of RAM gives good performance and is the minimum requirement to run Windows Vista. 2 GB is the minimum requirement for multimedia.

128 to 256 MB-

512 to 1024 MB- Home users and Home office would require 512 MB or more

The two types of memory are DDR SDRAM and DDR2 SDRAM. The DDR2 version is faster of the two. These memory types are categorized according to features like bandwidth and clock speed. Memory can be upgraded by Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM).

Hard drive- Definitely you would want to store all the data you work with and create, the Operating Systems used and all your applications.

20 to 40 GB- A 40 GB hard drive provides enough storage for home, family and office applications but not for the demanding gaming and multi media applications.

80 to 160 GB- For gaming and digital music hard drive requirement can be within this range

250 to 320 GB- if you are dabbling with huge amounts of data like digital images and multi media files check for models in the range of 200 to 350 GB.

Higher GB up to 500GB storage drives too is available.

Desktops come with hard drives of 3.5inch size. Hard drives have an in built motor that spins in speed range of 5,400 to 15,000 revolutions per minute; most models have speed of 7200rpm. The advantage associated with higher speeds is faster access and storing of more data.

Size and Shape- Desktops come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The small form factor cases have a number of features for basic functioning however upgrading with expansion cards is not possible. The all-in-one model has both display and computer enclosed in a single box, hence ideal for space constraint situations.

The disadvantage is the computer may get obsolete before the display. The Mid tower case and Full-tower case are more popular these days because of their sleek look. Lot of interior space and slots are available for expansion and up-gradation with hard drives and optical drives. There are plenty of ports for connecting peripherals like printers and digital cameras.

Find by Type Budget desktops- The budget desktops appeal to the home and student customers. Desktops within $400 come with features that serve the everyday requirement of word processing, spreadsheets, letterbox and web surfing. The processors from AMDs like the Sempron or the lower end processors of Athlon series and Intel's Pentium 4 fit into this kind of budget. Lenovo ThinkCentre A60 (9631D4U) PC Desktop IBM ThinkCentre S50 Refurbished Intel Desktop Computer - Intel P4 2.6GHz, 512MB DDR, 40GB HDD, DVD-R (J156-4384)

If you intend to use for gaming, raise the budget say within 500 to 600$ and you can have 3 GHz processor, 512MB Memory, a thin TFT screen and 120 GB hard drive. You can even upgrade the model. Upgrading the RAM is possible with a small amount. 

Check these models:

Business Desktops- Business desktops need to come with a certain amount of quality, only that much that you need and that too at a competitive price. Security features, warranty details and availability of onsite service must be given priority. Desktops configured with power saving features of dual core processors by both AMD and Intel will give good value for money. You can consider these models: Dell XPS 700 (XPS700-6366PB1) PC Desktop Lenovo 3000 J115 PC Desktop

Gaming Desktops- You need speed to conquer your gaming opponent and Intel Core2Duo can be ideal or still better the AMD Athlon 64 X2s processors. The AMD's dual cores stand better chance because most gaming applications are not designed to take advantage of the multi threading capabilities of Intel processors. You can also opt for the high speed hard drives. Check out the models at:

Media Center and Digital Entertainment Desktops- You will need these types of desktops for storing and sharing music, photos, editing videos, creating movie DVDs and music CDs. For such peak performance the features required are fastest processors, biggest hard drives and brightest displays. And if you have deep pockets check out the models at Dell XPS 700 (XPS700-2KX3WB1) PC Desktop Hewlett Packard Compaq dc7600 (EH798UC) PC Desktop .

For more hp product information visit our site at www.systemactive.com

Ways to Personalize PC Laptop Computers

When you are considering the purchase of any of the PC Laptop Computers available on the market today, you will observe that their colors are almost always one and the same. Thus, it makes for a very limited choice when it comes to asserting your unique personality and preferences.Fortunately, there are options to choose from to personalize your laptop to reflect your personality. With these ways to customize your laptop, you will not suffer through boring black, shiny gray and matte aluminum.

LAPTOP SKINS

Actually, laptop skins are not made of leather skins contrary to their name. Instead, these are made of high-quality vinyl, eco-friendly ink and a protective clear laminate that serve two purposes: first, these provide protection for laptop computers against scratches, dents, and spills and second, these are ways with which external customization can be achieved.

You can choose from many online sites that offer laptop skins, the themes of which range from animals and plants, hobbies and interests, places both real and fantastical, to persons and professions. Even when your laptop does not come in the store's prefabricated skins, you can always use razor blades to make it fit.

And when you grow tired of your laptop skin, you can always change it for something else. Or if you want to, you can always make your own designs and have these made into your own laptop skin! This way, you will not be limited to the available selections of the online stores.

CUSTOM PAINT JOB

For a more permanent personalization of laptop computers, custom paint jobs with special graphics designs are also available. Usually, the paint used is of high quality so you need not worry about cheap-looking paint on your expensive laptop.

In this process, you make your own design or you choose from among the store's designs. It is then transferred in paint to the laptop's case and voila! You have a laptop with an attitude mirroring yours. You can think of it as a permanent body tattoo on your laptop.

As such, you may have difficulty changing the design. So, it's very important to ensure that you love what you choose unless you are willing to pay for yet another expensive custom paint job or pay for yet another laptop. If you choose the latter, at least you will have two computer laptops to show the world, which is kind of cool.

LAPTOP BAGS

Just like laptop skins, a laptop bag provides protection to your beloved laptop. There are added advantages to a laptop bag that all the laptop skins in the world cannot provide.

For one thing, it's a protective covering against the vagaries of nature like rain, sun, dust and dirt, all of which are a laptop's worst enemies. For another thing, you can be fashionable with a laptop bag and cram as many computer accessories and personal things as you want in it. Plus, you can hide your laptop from the malicious eyes and hands of thieves that steal the laptop itself and the data contained within it.

Truly, with all these ways to personalize computer laptops, you shall never be part of the boring crowd. So, go out there and show the world what you can do with your ultra-customized laptop!

View more at www.systemactive.com .

Buying a Laptop that You Can Use as a Personal Assistant

Don't be surprised but buying a laptop can be even harder than buying a desktop computer. In fact, buying a computer is very straightforward. Laptops, however, are very personal stuff because it's something that you will carry around with you and sometimes act as more than just a computer for you to work on. They become a companion! That's why finding and selecting the right laptop can be very tricky.

Hard core computer gamers or people who will use their laptops for designing or video production may need more help than just reading about buying laptops. For conventional laptop users, here's something for you to digest.

The price for laptops varies drastically from brand to brand. Some laptops can cost $500 while some laptops can cost you $6,000. Some entry-level (meaning basic laptops) can be bought for between $600 and $900. If you grab a laptop off eBay or other rebate or dropshipping websites, you might get a mid-range laptop for far less than that.

Even for basic laptop users, the description and specifications for the laptop is very, very important. If you're not sure, check around and ask your friends for advice on how to buy a good laptop for the lowest price possible. You should be getting a laptop that comes with AT LEAST 512 megabytes of memory. The size of the memory ensures that your laptop can run multiple programs smoothly. As for hard drive, invest in as big a hard drive for your laptop as you can afford. Another thing that you may have to look out before you invest in the laptop is to find out how many USB ports that the laptop has. Most laptops come with at least 2 USB ports, the more the better. If you use a camera or thumb drive (disk key), this is where you insert the cable - the USB ports. You don't want to have to remove the USB cable for your printer and mouse every time you try to save pictures from your camera to your laptop! Some laptops come with slots for camera memory cards, for instance, your compact flash cards.

If you're keen on getting a Windows based laptop, the security of your laptop should be at the top of your priority lists. Windows SP2 XP should be ideal because it comes with antispam, antispyware, antipopups and antivirus programs. Some laptop retailers may offer you cheap or free programs that you can install into the laptop as a second layer protection to your laptop.

Other factors to take into account when shopping for laptops are the screen size, the life of the battery, the processor of the laptop, screen and keyboard, wi-fi networking, size and weight of the laptop.For more view visit our site www.systemactive.com

Article Source : www.ezinearticles.com

Link:http://hpproductguides.blogspot.com/2010/07/buying-laptop-that-you-can-use-as.html

Laptop Notebooks - 3 Steps to Buying Laptop Notebooks

When looking to buy laptops there a lot of factors to consider, ranging from weight, looks, battery time, RAM, size, hard drive, and a lot more. And it's easy to feel confused and overwhelmed. But let's just take it one step at a time.

1) Decide what you want and need. What kind of computer do you really want? And I think the biggest question of all: What will you primarily be using the laptop for? This helps greatly in deciding which model, size, speed and so on that will suit you best.

If your biggest interest is taking pictures, sharing videos and doing graphic design then a MacBook of some sort is the obvious choice for you. On the other hand, if your basically just looking for decent laptop notebooks that give you the ability to surf the web, write in Microsoft Word and Facebook with friends, then pretty much anyone will do. The more you have specific niche hobbies such as design, music and gaming, the more you research you need to do.

2) Make a features list. Sort of like when your setting up a dating profile online, you need to be clear on what kind of features you're looking for in a future "mate". What color of  laptop notebooks are you interested in? How big should the screen display be (12, 13, 15 inches or more?)

How much battery time do you want the laptop you're going to buy to have? Are you happy with the touch pad or do you want to get an external mouse as well for your laptop? Just go through and answer these questions one by one. Then bring your answers with you to the store, and you will have just cut the your shopping takes with about 90%.

3) Pay special attention to these three items: Battery time, RAM, and CPU. For obvious reasons you want a battery time of at least a couple of hours. Otherwise, what's the point of having a laptop? I recommend you spend a little extra to get as long battery time as possible.

RAM (random access memory) is also a big one to be concerned about.To simplify things, we can call this the "short term memory" of the computer. And if you know that you like to use several programs at once and often multitask, jumping from one application to another, then RAM is your best friend and you should get a lot of it.

Lastly, the CPU or central processing unit is also worthy of special attention. This is the "brain" of laptop. The CPU coordinates everything that gets your programs, movies, images and games to run smoothly.

So the faster CPU you can get - the better. Here you vote with your wallet. Keep within the budget that you can afford and enjoy.

for information visit www.systemactive.com 

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