Desktop PCs - A Quick Guide

By Matthew Kerridge

When shopping for a desktop PC, there are a wide variety of setups to choose from, but it is very easy to get off track unless you have a budget planned. So think about how much money you plan to put into buying a computer. Determining how much you wish to spend on a desktop PC will readily place into view the various options you can pursue. This budget applies equally to systems you plan to build yourself as well as pre-built systems.

If you are a light PC user whose main activities include surfing the web and checking emails, a budget desktop PC may be just what you are looking for. For about $300, you can purchase an affordable system from vendors such as eMachines and Acer. Granted that these desktop PCs won't have the latest features or the most powerful hardware, but for a shopper on a tight budget, these desktop PCs are an excellent choice.

Mainstream desktop PCs start out at around the $500-$600 mark, and they generally have more options than budget computers, although they do not have as much content as their upper level counterparts. These computers often have larger hard drives, more memory and also come with a monitor. Mainstream computers are perfect for those who more than just surf the web and read email - tasks such as CD and DVD burning, plus other light multimedia functions can be done with ease on these machines.

As you go higher in price, you'll find more desktop PCs will even more features, such as dedicated video graphics cards for better graphics performance and dual CD/DVD/Blu-Ray burners. Premium processors such as Intel's Core 2 Duo and AMD's Athlon are commonly found in these premium PCs. For around $1000, you can find plenty of these desktop PCs.

Avid gaming fans looking for a system that can pack a wallop can turn to gaming desktop PCs for their powerful PC fix. These machines are tailored to gamers who love to run their latest games at the highest settings possible. Customized tower cases provide better airflow, while powerful video graphics cards such as the nVidia GTX295 and the fastest processors available deliver a solid experience that is sure to please even the most hardcore gamers. Some budget-minded gaming machines can be found for under $1500, but those looking to purchase gaming desktop PCs should expect to pay $2500 and beyond for good gaming PC.

For those who want to have a machine that can play the latest games without missing a beat, gaming desktop PCs are the perfect answer. These machines have the fastest processors, the best video graphics cards and the largest and fastest hard drives available on the market, all dressed up in a special desktop tower case designed for maximum airflow. Of course, these machines often cost a pretty penny, with prices soaring beyond the $3000 mark. If you're comfortable with building your own desktop PC, it's possible to build your own machine to the same specs as a $3000 for half the cost.

The vast majority of desktop PCs sold will come with Windows Vista preloaded onto the machine, although some machines may already have the newest Microsoft operating system, Windows 7. A few desktop PCs do come with Linux, a Unix-based operating system that is seen as an alternative to Windows. However, there are many different variants of this software available, so manufacturers that do offer Linux preinstalled may not use the same variants. Most manufacturers offer recovery CDs and other rescue tools in the event of any serious problems with the operating system. - 30431

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here