This document provides guidance on choosing components for a new computer based on intended use. It discusses budget, mid-range, and high-end options for basic home users, photo and video editing, and gaming. Key components covered include RAM, processor, graphics card, hard drive, removable storage, communication options, monitor, and operating system. It recommends 4-6GB of RAM, an i3 budget processor or higher, onboard or dedicated graphics depending on needs, and at least a 250GB hard drive. A 1-year warranty is suggested.

1. Buying a New Computer

3. What are you going to do with
the computer?
Basic Home User – Budget Desktop
• Browse the Web
• Send email
• Create Word document
Photos and Video – Power Desktop
• Transfer pictures from a digital camera
• Transfer video from a digital video camera
• Edit photos and video
Gaming – Gaming PC
• Simple graphics
• Complex graphics

4. RAM, Processor
What Are These Things and What
Do I Choose?
RAM – Random Access Memory
• Single most important component in my
opinion
• 4 to 6 GB recommended
• More is better – multitasking, printing, web
surfing
Processor
• i3 (budget processor)
• i5 (mid-range)
• i7 (high-end
• Dual core
• Quad core

5. Graphics Card
• On-board (basic)
• Dedicated graphics card (photo & video editing
and gamers)
Hard Drive
• 250GB – 500GB (standard)
• 1 Terabyte (photos, videos)
Removable Storage
• DVD RW (multi-format)
• Blue Ray

6. Communication
• Ethernet
• Wireless
Monitor
• Flat screen – LCD
• 17” – 19” (larger requires higher end graphics card
• VGA or DVI (digital has sharper image)
Operating System
• Windows Vista (32 or 64-bit)
• Windows 7 (32 or 64-bit)

7. Warranty and Technical Support
• 1-year should suffice
• Longer warranties cost much more
• Get upgrades at time of purchase

9. Questions?