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CNET's desktop buying guide
By CNET staff 06/03/2007 URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/pcperipherals/0,39051168,39176057,00.htm Desktops specs (and prices) vary widely, from budget boxes for basic
tasks such as word processing and e-mailing to performance PCs for playing the
latest 3D games or editing digital video. The speed and type of processor and
memory you choose will play a large role in determining overall system
performance. Here, we'll help you navigate the many choices you have in this
area. Related articles: Select the processor and memory Options: Processor | Memory  Processor
The
brains of any PC is the CPU, or central processing unit. It is the single most
important component, but that doesn't mean you need to rush out and splurge on
the processor with the fastest clock speed. Both Intel and AMD charge a premium
for their top-of-the-line CPUs. For most users, we recommend scaling back a
notch or two. You'll save a lot of money, and generally speaking, you get better
bang for the buck with more memory.
Memory
The
speed and the amount of memory you choose go a long way toward dictating your
system's level of overall performance. For a machine running Windows Home Vista Basic Edition, 512MB
is the bare minimum. Double it to 1GB, and you'll see a big difference,
especially when running multiple apps concurrently or using intensive image- or
video-editing applications in Windows Vista Home Premium Edition and above.
The speed of the memory is also critical. Make sure the memory is DDR2 (double data rate) SDRAM. Midrange PCs can get by with 533MHz memory, though faster 667MHz memory won't set you back too much more. Written in one of two ways, memory speed is referred to by the speed in which it communicates with the CPU (1.8GHz, for example) or by its data bandwidth (5.3GB per second or PC5300). Though faster memory is available, today's chipsets do not support anything faster than 667MHz (without overclocking). Grade system graphics
When deciding on the graphics subsystem, you'll come to a fork in the
road. One path leads to integrated graphics, which share a system's main memory
and are sufficient for basic computing tasks such as working on e-mail, browsing
the Web, and giving the occasional photo slide show. If your graphics needs go
beyond the basics, however, you'll be best served by choosing a dedicated PCI-e
graphics card that has its own allotment of graphics memory. Graphics cards
based on ATI or Nvidia technology can cost anywhere from
Options: Integrated graphics | Discrete graphics | Multimedia cards  Integrated graphics
Integrated
graphics will suffice for basic computing tasks. If you aren't a gamer or a
creative professional and you are looking for a computer for e-mailing friends
and family, surfing the Web, and creating the occasional Word doc, you need not
pony up for a dedicated graphics card. Below are some of the more popular types
of integrated graphics.
 Discrete graphics
For
the consumer graphics market, only two companies remain: ATI and Nvidia, though the former has been snapped up by processor maker AMD. Each
company has offerings for every segment of the graphics market. Here are the
latest releases from each.
Multimedia cards
Some
graphics cards, such as those in ATI's Radeon All-in-Wonder line or Nvidia's
Personal Cinema series, offer up additional functionality, including the ability
to input TV, capture video, and connect multiple displays.
Find the drives you need to succeed
First, decide how big and fast a hard drive (or drives) you need. For
example, if you plan on working with large video files as you make your way to
Hollywood, spend the extra money on a large drive or two. Filmmakers will also
want to be sure to invest in a DVD-recordable drive, and music downloaders will
definitely want to include a CD burner. Options: Hard drives | Optical drives Hard drives
Optical drives
The DVD-recordable picture is a little complicated, with many standards supported by different groups of companies. In one corner, there is the DVD Forum, which supports the "minus" R or "dash" R format and counts among its supporters Hitachi, Panasonic, and Toshiba. In the other corner sits the DVD+RW Alliance, whose members include Dell, HP, Ricoh, and Yamaha. Some companies, such as Philips and Sony, support both formats. Lucky for you, many drives now support both formats and even yet another format, DVD-RAM, which can be useful for regular data backup. According to the latest street prices, DVD writer drives generally cost between Connect your digital devices
Desktop cases serve up a number of ports on the back panel for
connecting the system's peripherals, such as a monitor, speakers, a keyboard,
and a mouse. There are also ports for using printers young and old and others
for hooking up any number of digital devices, including digital cameras,
camcorders, MP3 players, and handhelds. Options: USB and FireWire | Audio and video ports | Getting online  USB and FireWire
Unless
you're particularly attached to an ancient printer, you need not concern
yourself with legacy ports such as serial and parallel connections, though they
are still being supported by the majority of today's motherboards. USB has
replaced these slower ports for connecting printers and other devices such as
digital cameras, MP3 players, and handhelds. Many mice and keyboards also use a
USB connection instead of the old PS/2 port. At 480Mbps, the newer USB 2.0
offers 40 times the speed of USB 1.1. With so many USB devices out there, we
suggest you settle for a minimum of four USB 2.0 ports, and you shouldn't have
to look too hard to find six or eight, with a couple of them conveniently
located on the front panel.  Most PCs today have front-mounted ports that make it more convenient to
connect digital devices such as a digital camera or MP3 player. No longer do you
have to reach around to the back of a PC to view photos or refresh the playlist
on your MP3 player. Pictured here is the front of a Sony Vaio desktop, which
boasts three slots for a variety of media cards (Memory Stick, CompactFlash, and
SmartMedia). And below these slots are audio and video ports along with a couple
of USB and FireWire ports. FireWire, also referred to as
IEEE 1394 and as iLink by Sony, is another popular port for peripherals. The
standard was developed by Apple and is used mostly for connecting digital-video
camcorders or external hard drives. Not to be outdone by USB 2.0, FireWire
recently received an upgrade that doubles the speed to 800Mbps. The two versions
are referred to as FireWire 400 and FireWire 800. One FireWire port should do
the trick.
Audio and video ports
Many
systems have a blue VGA port that's integrated to the motherboard and accessible
on the back panel for connecting the PC to a CRT monitor or an analog LCD. If
the system has a graphics card, the card will offer this same port, while some
graphics cards will also furnish you with a white DVI connection for digital
LCDs. If you want to connect your PC to your TV, you'll need a system with an
S-Video port.  Getting online
For
connecting to the Internet, it's simple. If you are stuck with dial-up service
(or you just love to fax), you'll need a modem port. Sometimes referred to as an
RJ-11 port, this is integrated to some motherboards and, at other times,
provided by an expansion card. For broadband, you need an Ethernet port. More
often than not, you'll find this integrated to the motherboard and, if not, look
for it as an option listed as a network interface card or NIC. Recently, we've
seen some systems that contain an integrated wireless receiver. Although your
desktop will still need at least one wire (the power cord), integrated wireless
functionality means that you will be able to easily add your new PC to your
wireless home network.
Pick the right peripherals
Choosing how best to fill the inside of your PC's case is only half the
battle. You also need to choose peripherals that best complement the type of
system you're assembling. Peripherals: Monitor | Speakers | Keyboard/mouse | Printers Monitor
There's
more to this decision than simply choosing a less expensive but bulky CRT vs. a
sleek LCD. For help deciding, read CNET's monitor buying guide.
Speakers
 
For basic audio, you'll need to choose a monitor with integrated stereo speakers
or a cheap two-piece set. If you have any appreciation for music, look for a 2.1
set at the very least. The number 2.1 refers to the two satellite
speakers and the one subwoofer. If DVDs are your thing, a 5.1 (or better) set
will give you surround sound. For more more information about your speaker
options, head to CNET's surround-sound buying guide. Keyboard/mouse
The
wireless revolution has spread to keyboards and mice. Now you can find wireless
varieties of each, often powered by rechargeable batteries. They obviously cut
down on the dreaded mess of wires that can entangle your desktop, and they also
give you more freedom of movement than their wired counterparts. For living-room
computing with a Media Center PC, for example, a wireless keyboard-and-mouse
tandem makes a lot of sense because you can sit back from the PC (say, parked on
your couch) and still view photos, play music, or surf the Web. Many keyboards come with shortcut keys for office or multimedia apps. This editor, for one, couldn't live without the dedicated cut, copy, and paste buttons on the Microsoft Office keyboard that he's typing on right now. Other common shortcut keys you'll find can be used to play a CD, jump from one app to the next, or simply open your favorite apps with one-button ease. The best part? In most cases, you can program the keys to best suit your needs. Mouse functionality these days goes far beyond mere right and left clicks. A scrollwheel has become a necessity for comfortable Web scrolling. Buttons hidden on the side where your thumb rests often let you jump forward and backward between Web pages. A more important development over the years has been the optical mouse replacing its roller-ball forebear. An optical mouse offers better accuracy and won't get all gummed up with dust and dirt. Printers
Many
vendors offer a discount on a printer when you choose to bundle it with your PC.
And in some cases, companies will throw one in for free. For help finding the
right printer, visit our printer buying guide.
Protect your investment
The industry-average desktop warranty lasts one year for both parts and
labor. Not all one-year warranties are created equal, however. Some companies
will dispatch a repair person to your home if a problem can't be fixed over the
phone or online; others offer only depot service, which means you must drop it
off at a local service center or ship it directly to the company itself. If the
warranty offers the latter, be sure to find out who pays for shipping. Also,
check whether you need to save the original boxes for shipping; some warranties
require this.
Many companies will offer extensions up to three additional years for an added cost. Whether it's worth it to tack on another year or two depends on your comfort level with making repairs yourself (or letting a friend or relative inside the case) and how much you spent on the system. For an experienced user buying a budget system, an additional Many problems can be fixed simply by looking at the included manual or by skimming a company's online-support pages. In our reviews, we try to give you an idea of how extensive the help information is with both printed and online resources. For more information on hardware warranties, please see CNET's quick guide to winning the warranty game. |
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