Guide on Choosing the Right Computer

[SilverTears]

Edited By Dan 3/19/08 - Was very outdated and vague, adding detail

Have you ever wanted to get a new computer and don't know what one to get? This guide will help you choose. I'm going to cut to the chase and get right to the guide.

Table of Contents
1. Type of Computer
2. Gear
3. The Computer itself
4. Money

What kind of computer do you want?
Before you go spending money on things you don't even know about? What kind of computer do you want? If you are just browsing the internet, chatting, you can just order a regular computer from dell or something. You won't be doing much with that. Then there are gaming computers, which I will be focusing this guide on.


Gear
So, you know what kind of computer you want, but you don't know what to get? Well, for a regular computer, you are fine with what you have. Don't go wasting money on something thats for something else but it looks cool, then again, it's your money. For gaming computers, well this needs quite a bit.

Mouse - A good mouse is recommended for gaming. Do not use any ball, or trackball mice. They are trash for gaming. I recommend any optical mice. Here are some good and popular ones.

MX518 - [ Picture ]
MX510 - [Picture]
Razer DeathAdder - [ Picture]
MX Revolution - [Picture]
G5 - [Picture]
G9 - [Picture]


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Keyboard - A normal keyboard is fine, but, I recommend one that has lights for night time play, not much info to put in here.
Try looking at a G15 keyboard if you can afford it.

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Headsets - Only get a head set with a microphone if you want to talk. Otherwise, get a regular headset. It helps you hear better, and is a big advantage. Also good if you want to keep the noise down and still be able to hear.
**Note - Don't buy a headset with a mic thats cheap like a $5 one, if you do, your mic will sound like crap.

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Desk - I can't really tell you a desk to get, because it depends on what's comfortable to you. I can tell you one thing though, try to get a desk with enough space for your mouse, keyboard, and mousepad(see next section). Some people like they keyboard on a slideout, and the mouse on the actual desk, this is very annoying to me, but comfortable for others. Some people like the keyboard and mouse on the actual desk and the slideout for something else, this is ok, not comfortable IMO. Now, for the slideouts, this is the hardest choice of all if your someone like me, you need enough mouse space for about 10 inches or more. You don't want small mouse space with a slideout. Remember, you need a mousepad to(see next section).

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Mousepad - Most people don't use them, which is a bad choice. I don't use one because I have no room. Without a mousepad, everything is harder, and you will notice how much smoother it is with a mousepad. Plus, depending on what wood your desk is made out of, without a mousepad it can ruin the wood. You should not get a mousepad with a wrist guard because it gets in the way and you will not have full wrist movement. I recommend the IceMat or the SteelPad .



The Computer
Now that you have all that down, you are going to get the computer.

Monitor - I recommend flatscreens, but fatties will work to. You should get either a nice widescreen or a big evenly squared one. The reason is pretty self explanitory. If your computer is not for gaming then just use the regular monitor it comes with.
LCD's have really gone down in price, no excuse to go with a CRT anymore, except maybe refresh-rate. 2ms response time is great for gaming.

Space - If it's a gaming computer, you are going to be installing some games and a good amount of programs of course. I recommend in the 100s or 200s, I originally got 150, but I got lucky, HP screwed up so many times on the order and gave me lower ones and then they screwed up again and gave me 250, so I kept that instead of sending it back. If this is not a gaming computer 50-100 will do.
This is talking about Hard-Drive space, measured in GB (Giga-bytes) As Silver said, 150-200gb is a good amount, but if you are planning on having video editing, or a large library of music, go higher. 250gb is no longer considered alot, and is now more of a standard. Personally, I have 500gb atm, but this will soon be filled.

Speed - Well, you want a good amount of speed for a gaming computer or not, so get a good amount of speed.
Way to vague for me. Intel Core2Duo's (C2D) are still a very good bang for the buck, go on Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more! to check prices and reviews.
ISP - Ok, 1 thing, gaming computer or not DO NOT get dial-up. Get dsl or comcast.

Video Card - For a gaming computer, I recommend nVidia or ATI. For nVidia I recommend Series FX and higher. I can't give much on ATI as I have never used it. For a normal computer, you can just use the one that game with it.
Nvidia'a new 9600 cards are a VERY VERY good deal for the price, they are not the best nvidia has to offer, but score very high on a price/performance scale.

Speakers - For gaming, get a nice set of speakers with a sub woofer or 2 added in there. You won't regret it, the sound is great. For normal computers, use a simple set of 2.
If you want 5.1 channel surround sound, make sure you get a decent sound card. Motherboard integrated sound is usually fine for 2.1 channel sound, but if you want higher, they generally suck.

Cool, but where am I getting the money from???
Well, save up. This should be easy if your a teen and don't have to worry about bills/rent.


Newegg.com - Buy Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!, a good site to order computer and electronic things from.

Guide Created and Fully Written by SilverTears aka Evan
If you have any suggestions or I have missed something PM me.
Thanks for reading and I hope I helped people. This guide will get updated.

[BrioCloud]

Great guide SilverTears. There seems to be alot of people asking about how to build a computer these past few weeks. I suspect that was what inspired you to create this guide?

[SilverTears]

Yes. Their wasn't already one on this site so I decided to make one. Plus, this should help a good amount of people, because like you said there are alot asking on this site. Thanks for the positive comment.

[BrioCloud]

Hm. On making the computer yourself. I suggest go to Newegg and click on the tab Computer Hardware. On the left there will be many sections for each part of the computer. You can then click on each category you may have to click another subcategory. Then you can select your price range, there will also be a drop-down menu and click Best Rating, or Most Reviews. Generally those are a safe bet to purchase.

[The Mob]

also, newegg has the learning center, which is really useful.
that can be found on the bottom of the page in blue.

but what about putting the actual parts together? and some of the more technical stuff like sockets and compatibility?

[BrioCloud]

also, newegg has the learning center, which is really useful.
that can be found on the bottom of the page in blue.

but what about putting the actual parts together? and some of the more technical stuff like sockets and compatibility?

Three things. Check socket of Cpu to go into the socket type of mobo. Memory type of mobo (DDR DDR2). I think if you check these three things, and don't buy things thats way too old. Compatibility won't be a problem.

[The Mob]

then there is 3200, 4200, 6400, ddr3,
lol

[BrioCloud]

Ah. Just post a thread asking if you have a question about compatibility. Haha.

[SilverTears]

Like I told Ragnarhox, this is a guide on choosing the right computer.

[Dan]

I sticked it, and if SilverTears will allow me to, I can type up building and things to look out for and tack it on the end.

[SilverTears]

Go for it =)

[BrioCloud]

Also better brands like for the mobo. Asus, Gigabyte etc, are way better buy than an Ecs.

[The Mob]

mmm.. it depends on the actual mobo. branding is not everything. i use newegg's customer reviews alot when buying a product. in fact, thats always how i choose something in the end.

[BrioCloud]

Well from all the mobos I have used. Ecs always breaks and wears out the fastest. Its very frustrating.

[Bounda]

It was alright until it came to the actual computer parts, he didn't suggest an amount of RAM, processor type/speed (which could be

Speed - Well, you want a good amount of speed for a gaming computer or not, so get a good amount of speed.

but speed is a very general word so it could be speed for anything)

Also, the video cards section wasn't great either, would've been better if you gave examples of low end light gaming / video watching cards, and then examples of high end gaming cards. I personally use an ATI X1300 Pro 400 Mhz core, 256 mb. If you're going to play a game such as a source game, go ATI, ati uses Direct3D, which is what source is built upon. (ever wonder why valve advertises ati things so much, and gives away free games for ati users?)

ISP - This section wasn't great. "Get dsl or comcast." There are several types of connections varying with price, I personally use a local cable internet company "Kraus". It runs games alright, i get low pings around 40, and downloads at 150kb/s. 20$/month. Even cheaper connections can run games well.

Just my criticism.

[BrioCloud]

It was alright until it came to the actual computer parts, he didn't suggest an amount of RAM, processor type/speed (which could be but speed is a very general word so it could be speed for anything)

Also, the video cards section wasn't great either, would've been better if you gave examples of low end light gaming / video watching cards, and then examples of high end gaming cards. I personally use an ATI X1300 Pro 400 Mhz core, 256 mb. If you're going to play a game such as a source game, go ATI, ati uses Direct3D, which is what source is built upon. (ever wonder why valve advertises ati things so much, and gives away free games for ati users?)

ISP - This section wasn't great. "[/size][/size]Get dsl or comcast." There are several types of connections varying with price, I personally use a local cable internet company "Kraus". It runs games alright, i get low pings around 40, and downloads at 150kb/s. 20$/month. Even cheaper connections can run games well.

Just my criticism.

For the isp. I have a ~310kb/s download speed for $24 a month by Sbc Yahoo. Thats very reasonable too.

[Dan]

27 kbps ftw!

[Bounda]

I know my internet isn't the greatest, but it's the best I can get at my current location. I'm not trying to show off my internet, just trying to give an example and help Silver improve his guide.

[SilverTears]

I am getting around to update it tomorrow

[Ragnarhox]

@Bounda-
I sent silver a pm asking him to be more specific on his 'guide' since it is rather lacking but he said,

It was a guide, not to tell everyone what parts there are on a computer.