When buying a new PC, there are a number of considerations to make, apart from
cost. Obviously cost is the main factor when buying a new PC, but spending a
little more initially may end up saving money in the long run and may reduce
the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Some incredibly cheap PCs can be obtained these days and a lot of this
reduction in price is due to the lower cost in producing PCs in general and
more specifically, the "chips" inside the PCs, especially the Central
Processing Unit (CPU), the brains behind the PC, as well as the "chipset" chip
(Integrated Circuit or IC).
Another reduction in the cost of recent PCs is the huge reduction in the price
of Random Access Memory (RAM), literally the "memory" of the PC.
However, some of the cost reduction has been obtained by cost-cutting in other
ways and this often means quality-reduction.
Obviously the CPU is the main component of a PC, but the motherboard is
probably the most important. It determines what size and type of CPU, the
amount and type of RAM, as well as the features built-in to the the
motherboard, via the chipset. It also determines the upgradeability of the
entire PC.
The other part that is probably considered to be the the 3rd most important
component is the RAM.
However, one of the least understood and least considered components is the
Power Supply Unit (PSU). The PSU determines the stability and capability of the
PC as a whole, by providing strong, stable power to the CPU, the RAM, the Hard
Disk Drives (HDDs) and all other ancillary components.
If a poor quality PSU is used, it can cause all sorts of problems that may show
up as problems with other components, especially CPU, RAM and HDDs. It can also
cause instability and errors that may be attributed to the Operating System
(OS).
It is imperative to buy a good quality case, as this ensures a good quality PSU
and in most cases, the PSU is supplied complete with the PC case, as one single
unit.
The other singularly important thing about buying a good quality case is the
fact that the case may be kept when an upgrade is required.
Even if an upgrade is not contemplated when buying a PC, this may sometimes be
required down the track, as the usage needs of the PC change.
Usually an upgrade involves merely the replacement of the CPU, the RAM, the
motherboard or a combination of these components.
Essentially, this means that buying a good quality, spacious case may in fact
last for 2, 3 or more upgrades, essentially meaning that it is used as the
basis for 2 or more PCs.
If an upgrade is not contemplated and the PC is intended to be kept for 3-5
years without change and then a new PC bought, a good quality PSU is very
important, especially if it needs to last this length of time and you require a
stable PC during this period.
It is also imperative that you have a detailed list of the components going
into the PC.
For example:-
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Is the Motherboard a full-sized ATX Form Factor or a "cut-down" Micro-ATX Form
Factor?
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Is the processor a slower, cheaper Celeron or Pentium 4 CPU?
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Is the video card built onto the Motherboard?
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If the video card is built onto the Motherboard, does it "borrow" from system
memory (RAM)? How much?
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Is the rotation speed of the HDD platter the older 5,400 rpm or the latest
7,200 rpm?
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Is the Windows O/S the latest version?
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Is the modem a "Software" or "Hardware" modem?
To explain the points above in a bit more detail:-
-
Is the Motherboard a full-sized ATX Form Factor or a "cut-down" Micro-ATX Form
Factor?
This could affect the PC's upgradability in future years.
You may think that this may not be an issue and you may be quite
correct, but think carefully about this as a factor.
-
Is the processor a slower, cheaper Celeron or Pentium 4 (P4) CPU?
Again this may not be a factor, especially given the CPU speeds
these days, however I have seen many PCs turned into Video-editing
PCs down the track and this is one area where this CPU difference
will affect applications most.
It will also greatly affect games and multimedia applications.
Be especially wary of manufacturers who mention a "P4 motherboard",
but don't specifically mention what type of CPU is included, as
this is a very good way to slip a cheaper Celeron into the specs,
whilst you think you have a P4.
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Is the video card built onto the Motherboard?
These are known as "On-board" video chips. Again, this maybe no
big deal, but you deserve to know, especially as a child may grow
up during the life of the PC and may wish to play games.
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If the video card is built onto the Motherboard, does it "borrow" from system
memory (RAM)?
How much?
Many On-board video chipsets can share RAM, reducing the overall
amount available to applications. Not only can this affect the
graphical capability for games, etc, but it can also affect the
performance of non-graphical applications.
-
If the video card is built onto the Motherboard, can an removable video card be
added at a later date (via an AGP slot, etc)?
This may be a useful facility if you have a child that may grow up
during the life of the PC and may wish to play games.
-
Is the rotation speed of the HDD platter the older 5,400 rpm or the latest
7,200 rpm?
HolTech Services has seen systems sold with HDD older technology
(5,400 rpm), rather than the current norm latest (7,200 rpm).
This is usually done by "brand-name" manufacturers who have to get
rid of excess stock. They may have bought 10 million HDDs and they
still have to get rid of 1,000.
We have seen otherwise top-spec systems let down in this area
because of this particular problem.
-
Is the Windows O/S the latest version?
Some PCs are sold with "Designed for Windows XP" stickers on the
PC tower, but actually were supplied with Windows ME, a far inferior
O/S.
This usually indicates a "brand-name" manufacturer who have to get
rid of excess stock.
HolTech Services have seen systems let down in this area because
of this particular problem.
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Is the modem a "Software" or "Hardware" modem?
Software modems use the CPU for transmission power, thereby
potentially slowing other applications. Hardware modems use their
own in-built processor for transmission power and hence don't
affect the PCs processing power.
Because of the speed of CPUs these days and because of the much
higher cost of Hardware modems, most systems these days are supplied
with Software modems.
A lot of the answers to the questions above may not affect your current
proposed usage of the PC, but may affect its usage in the future.
Also, you may be being sold older or outdated technology, without an
appropriate reduction in price for it. Technology in Information Technology
(IT) changes very quickly and so do prices.
HolTech Services has seen many of the above situations affect Clients
application processing power, on what otherwise should have been a powerful PC.
"Brand-name" PCs
Many people who are particularly new to PCs may buy a "brand-name" PC, such as
HP, IBM, etc.
They do this because they feel that a PC from a large "brand-name" company will
be better than a custom-made PC from a much smaller establishment "without a
name" on it.
Another major reason is because "brand-name" PCs are relatively cheaper, but
because they have a "brand-name", they won't perform "cheaper".
Just remember however, that if the manufacturer can save $1 per PC and they're
making 1 million PCs per year (figures from a hat), they have just saved
$1,000,000 per year!
The main "brand-name" PC manufacturers are:-
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HP (Hewlett-Packard)
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Compaq (now merged with HP)
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IBM
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Dell
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Acer
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Packard-Bell
When purchasing a PC from a "brand-name", certain situations may exist with
which the purchaser (i.e. you!) may not be aware.
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many of these PCs are made with non-standard parts
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a Microsoft Windows CD is not supplied with the PC
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some have hidden partitions on the HDD, containing supplied software
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most, if not all, don't have a "Reset" button
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special screws are sometimes used to restrict non-"brand-name" PC Technicians
access to the PC
-
special case opening methods are sometimes used to restrict non-"brand-name" PC
Technicians access to the PC.
To explain the points above in a bit more detail:-
-
many of these PCs are made with non-standard parts
HP sometimes use non-standard SFX Form Factor PSUs to allow them
to make smaller cases (on the inside; they still have bulbous
front panels that take up valuable space, without adding much
value). This is usually considered a good thing to the new PC
buyer, until the PSU dies and a replacement PSU costs approximately
3 times the cost of a good quality standard ATX Form Factor PSU.
Because HP makes so many PCs, they can buy these PSUs very cheaply,
whereas very few are sold over the counter, so they are expensive
replacement parts.
Most ATX Form Factor PSUs (the most common Form Factor) are 300 watt
(w) or more. A very few are 250w and some are as high as 550w. The
SFX PSU in some HP PCs are rated at 150w.
-
a Microsoft Windows CD is not supplied with the PC
Yes, you do get a version of Windows with the PC (at the time of
writing, Windows XP), but on a "System Recovery CD", as opposed
to a genuine Microsoft Windows CD.
The System Recovery CD contains not only a compressed copy of Windows,
but also all the drivers necessary for the PC "package" that you
bought, as well as any additional software provided as part of the
package. It may also contain software written for the "brand-name"
company who made the PC, to assist with fault-finding HDD formatting
and Operating System (O/S) reinstall.
For example, PC package Model 1234 may contain the PC tower case,
a monitor, a printer and a scanner. All drivers for each of these
package components would be contained on the System Recovery CD.
Many beginner PC users consider this advantageous, however there
are some inherent problems with this approach.
The new PC user may attempt an HDD format and O/S reinstall, using
the instructions provided by the PC manufacturer, either in paper
documentation or on screen by pressing a certain key on the keyboard
(F10, F11, F12 or the like).
What is often not explained (or not understood) adequately is the
fact that the HDD format will erase all data from the HDD, thereby
destroying the thesis your daughter was working on, the Powerpoint
presentation you were working on for work and the nearly-finished
novel your wife has been writing for the last 2 years!
(A Client of HolTech Services (HTS) had this happen with their
system, prior to contacting HTS.)
If you bypass the above DIY step and get a non-"brand-name" PC
Technician, their job is made much harder by the fact that they
must use a System Recovery CD and not a standard Windows CD.
There are also beneficial ways of protecting your data on the HDD
via partitioning which can not be done for most "brand-name" PCs,
as this partitioning is ignored and wiped by most "brand-name"
manufacturers. (Another Client of HTS had this happen with their
system, despite the fact that the information provided by the
"brand-name" manufacturer's Help Desk was that their data would
be safe.)
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some have hidden partitions on the HDD, containing supplied software
HP are particularly good at this method of cost-saving.
They often don't bother supplying you with a System Restore CD
with the PC, they instead store it on a hidden separate area of
the HDD called a partition and supply you with a method to extract
this information and burn it to a number of CDs (maybe 5 or 6),
supplied by you.
If you don't get around to this immediately (because you're a beginner
and it's a complicated process) and you lose your system, requiring
an O/S reinstall, then you have to BUY the System Restore CDs from
the manufacturer.
Or maybe the HDD fails.
Either way, it's your problem, Ralph.
The other side of the coin, of course, is that you paid for a 40GB
(that hat again) HDD an now you've lost 5 or 6 GB because the
manufacturer is storing software on it.
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most, if not all, don't have a "Reset" button
This may not concern you greatly, as you can always turn it off
and back on again via the power switch.
However, doing that is a good way of corrupting open files, especially
O/S system files, which will eventually necessitate an O/S reinstall.
Using a Reset button will "reboot" the PC, with a lot less chance
of corrupting open files.
As the facility of a Reset button is built into every Motherboard,
I fail to understand why this is removed as a feature from PCs
supplied by "brand-name" manufacturers.
And believe me, it is a very useful feature indeed!
-
special screws are sometimes used to restrict non-"brand-name" PC Technicians
access to the PC
At the very least, this slows down the PC Technician, causing you
greater costs.
-
special case opening methods are sometimes used to restrict non-"brand-name" PC
Technicians access to the PC.
This also slows down the PC Technician, causing you greater costs,
sometimes substantially.
IBM are notorious for this little trick. HP are also known to do
the same, to a much lesser extent, from time to time.
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