Inexpensive Dasktops

[Vince Massi]

Folks, I have posted my "Cheap Laptops" series on several forums, and it was well-received by small audiences everywhere. Some of that knowledge applies to desktops as well.

If you want to play high-tech games or do high-tech video work, or if you insist on multi-tasking, this series is not for you. But if you only wish to go on the web, play a few simple games, watch YouTube videos, and write documents, you might be better off buying a cheap desktop that you can throw away after a few years.

I'll be posting once a day, and courteous comments, pro and con, are appreciated.

 

[Vince Massi]

Part 2

There are two important principles you must consider if buying a cheap desktop. The first is: Why are you doing this?

Loosely speaking, computers double in power every 18 months (That is not an exact or consistent number, but it's close enough for what I'm trying to explain.) If you buy an expensive computer, after 18 months, it will be middle-of-the road. After three years it will be in the bottom 1/3. If you are not a high-tech game player, you never used most of the power you paid for.

Your cheap desktop will be able to surf the web, play simple games, and write documents long after it is obsolete. Years later, when you start having problems watching videos, a new video card might be all you need. When you eventually buy another cheap desktop, you will have the new technology that an older, expensive desktop does not have.

When your hard drive eventually fails on a $250 machine, you can afford to walk away. Unless you have a lot of money, it is difficult to walk away from an expensive machine.

So why not buy a cheap laptop? Because the insides of a desktop are six times bigger, allowing cooler air, making your desktop last longer. Also, a desktop is easier to upgrade and repair.

 

[Vince Massi]

Part 3

There's a second principle you must understand when buying a cheap desktop. In order to keep the price low, parts have to be cheapened. If a cheap desktop excels in one area, it has cheapened the parts in another area to keep the price down.

Years ago, Acer put out a computer that amazed reviewers with how much it could do at such a low price. But the Acer forums were full of angry complaints from owners who couldn't get a good Wi-Fi signal. The solution? They had to buy a good Wi-Fi card for their machine, because the cheap, low-powered one that was installed was not up to the job.

To be fair, people who have finally upgraded from older computers to new ones have found that a new cheap desktop is far more powerful than the middle-of-the-road rig that they had been using. But remember that a cheap desktop does have cheap parts.

 

[Vince Massi]

Part 4  The Monitor




Usually, the cheapest way to buy a desktop is to buy a "set" that includes the monitor and a keyboard.

You need to understand the difference between a low-quality and a high-quality monitor.  Most people can't tell the difference. High-quality monitors have more pixels (lights). The black letters are a little blacker, and the white background is a little whiter. No big deal, unless you're into high-quality graphics.

But a cheap monitor cannot show a high-quality picture, no matter how powerful your computer is. And a cheap desktop cannot broadcast a high-quality picture no matter how expensive the monitor is. Yes, you can buy a powerful monitor with its own video card, but it will only receive a low-quality signal from a cheap desktop.

If you want to spend extra money on the monitor, get one with a larger screen.

 

[Vince Massi]

Part 5  Store-bought or shop-built?

There's no one true answer, because different models are on sale at different times, and computer shops vary in quality. But here's some good advice. If you have it made at a shop, spend a little extra to get a better power supply block. For about $20 more, you can buy a power block (sometimes called a voltage regulator) that will make your rig last about two years longer.

The big killer of many computers is heat. For about another $20, you can get an extra fan put in. My wife and I are heavy users, and we have an extra fan in both our rigs, and they are still running well after more than three years.

If you buy it in a store, check the return policy. If it doesn't work, forget the warranty--take it back. Obviously, you need to hold onto your receipt.

Never buy an off-brand. And buy from large stores with a reputation to maintain.

 

[Twisted]

If you have it made at a shop, spend a little extra to get a better power supply block. For about $20 more, you can buy a power block (sometimes called a voltage regulator)

LOL!  Where does Vince get these terms?  Power block?  And NEVER called a voltage regulator.  It's always been "Power Supply".

http://www.newegg.com/Power-Supplies/SubCategory/ID-58

 

[Vince Massi]

Part 6    What Operating System Should You Chose?

At this point in time, you'll probably have to choose between Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. As of today, there are no desktops built from the ground up for Windows 10--new Win 10 computers are actually Win 8 computers with 10 installed at the factory.

I have successfully upgraded my Windows 7 desktop and three Windows 8 laptops to Windows 10, and it works well. There is a learning curve, but it isn't that difficult.  Until July 29, computers with 7 or 8 can upgrade to 10 for free. You then have thirty days to revert.

Since Win 10 works well on computers designed for 8, I would go with 10.

Almost half the computers in the world currently use Windows 7, an excellent system that is now obsolete. If you have Windows 8, as time goes by, you will find that there are steadily less programs available to you. Windows 10, however, has already become the second most popular operating system, it is automatically upgraded for free, and about 1/4 of all Windows users in the US use it.

Although  Windows  runs well on 2 gigs of RAM (as long as you avoid high-tech programs), they usually come with 4 gigs, which is a good idea in light of future upgrades.

And yes, you can install Linux for free on a Windows computer without deleting Windows.