Tips for, hardware and prices to choose your next best computer

Tips With the arrival of Vista, many users assess the acquisition of a new PC, or the replacement of outdated equipment. Here are some tips for choosing the hardware.and

The base of the PC is built around a central processor, which largely defines the team's performance. Currently, both AMD and Intel split its offer into two groups: in the most advanced processors are dual or quad core (AMD expects to offer in the near triple-core CPU).

Each core is a processor itself, so a dual core is like having two CPUs in one cabinet. However, not all tasks benefit from this. Do so in general the applications related to multimedia or gaming. The operation of the e-mail client will not have a truly remarkable improvement, in general, the application must be optimized for this hardware to the fullest.

The models are named AMD Athlon 64 X2, Intel offers the Pentium Dual Core and Core 2 Duo, the last successor of the Core Duo. Both companies abandoned long ago the distinction between them using its internal clock. Now use an ordinal number, the greater offer better performance relative to the others of the same family. Here, the base price by a microprocessor is $ 100 and can climb to 400 or 500, if you have the most powerful quad-core processor.

Both companies also offer single-core chips, cheaper: the AMD Sempron and Athlon 64, and Intel Celeron (with and without a "D" at the end). Although less powerful, will be able to accomplish any task they are asked in an office environment or home, beyond the game: surf the Web, play audio and video, email, chat, keep a blog and edit photos, and more. Any new model serves both for XP and Windows Vista. The price of a chip of this type ranges from 50 to 90 dollars.

In specialized pages like Hothardware.com , Techreport.com , Extremetech.com , www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html , www.maximopc.org , or www.chilehardware.com no performance comparisons between processors from both companies.

If there is a possibility, it should require the use a socket AM2 motherboard if you buy an AMD chip, since it is compatible with a Sempron and dual-core chip (which could be added later.) For Intel, the connector ( socket , in English) should be 775 for the same reasons. If you change the processor manufacturer will also have to change the motherboard, because the socket is not compatible.

RAM

This is crucial for the performance of the PC. If the processor is the brain of the computer, the RAM is the place where he displays his tools and user programs, the more you have, the better the team.

Today we have to calculate at least 512 MB for XP, although it can work with less, and 1 GB for Vista. The memory type is DDR2, faster than the previous version (DDR). ADRs are not equal, as processors have an internal clock. For example, DDR2 533, 667, 800 and 1000 MHz The latter is faster, but its price is higher than the other, depending on a compatible motherboard to run at full speed, but can be installed on motherboards slower. On average, 512 MB of RAM are priced $ 45, and 1 GB will be around $ 85.

Motherboard and video tips

The backbone of our PC is the motherboard, or motherboard. They connect all components. It is made according to the processor, so choosing one affect the other. Beyond that, all include audio output, and some integrated video. Current models also added an Ethernet network port (ideally that is gigabit, ie to allow network connections to 1000 Mbps) and 4 rear USB 2.0 ports, plus an additional 2 connector on the front of cabinet .

Some models may also include a second connector network, an audio output 5.1 or Wi-Fi antenna. Depending on the model also offers 2 or 4 banks of RAM, and various connectors PCI and PCI-Express, to add additional items such as a video capture, FireWire, or a 3D video accelerator. The performance and the manufacturer set the price, which ranges between 50 and 150 dollars.

In matters of video, one option is to appeal to a motherboard that has an integrated video chip, cheaper than buying a 3D video accelerator separately. If you choose a machine with integrated video, it is best to ask for a motherboard that includes, in addition, a video port PCI-Express 16x extra, to add an accelerator in the future. PCI-Express is the successor to AGP is not supported. Still get motherboards with AGP ports for video, are cheap, but it will update in the future, because they hardly make such plates.

The integrated video chip will use part of the general RAM and processor is usually less efficient than conventional accelerators, but if you use 64 MB of RAM or more is sufficient for Windows XP and Vista, to play video and a game modest. In the case of a separate 3D accelerator, it is best to include, in addition to the VGA port, a DVI to connect the PC to an LCD monitor.

Depending on the performance (a more powerful graphics processor, more memory itself, connection to two monitors), a 3D accelerator can have a local price of between 50 and 200 dollars, approx.

Storage Tips

Hard drives continue to increase their capacity, and today it is not unreasonable to obtain a model of 320 gigabytes (GB) for $ 130. Of course there are cheaper alternatives: 250 GB (U.S. $ 110), or 160 GB (U.S. $ 85), for example. Windows Vista is arranged with 15 GB, but a higher capacity never hurts.

New discs use a Serial ATA connection (SATA), which offers higher data transfer rate than the previous (parallel ATA, also known as IDE or PATA). The motherboard has to offer this connection, many include both types, which allow you to connect a rigid old. Most disks rotate at 7200 revolutions per minute (rpm), although they do get some at 10,000 rpm. Include a cache (a cache, faster than the disc itself) of 8 MB. Some discs offer a better cache of 16 MB; other, cheaper, 2 MB. The final price will be adjusted accordingly.

In the case of recorders, now hardly makes sense to buy a tape recorder is CD only (with a price of approximately U.S. $ 30) for a DVD burner that also burns CDs, has an average price of $ 45. Additionally, a 700 MB CD disc is around $ 0.90 (without box), against $ 1.5 a DVD can store nearly 4.5 GB of data and hold harmless the information we store in our new PC.

Some options for orientation Tips

An example of a budget PC with an AMD Sempron 3200 + or Intel Celeron D 336 processor, 512 MB DDR2 667 MHz RAM, 80 GB hard drive (SATA) 18x DVD burner, integrated audio and video, has a price Local approximately U.S. $ 350, without monitor. In general it includes a generic keyboard and mouse, if not for 40 or 50 pesos can be added.

A high performance team may include an Athlon 64 X2 4400 +, or Intel Core 2 Duo E4400, 1 GB DDR2 800 MHz RAM, 320 GB SATA drive, 18x DVD burner, motherboard without integrated video and a accelerated Nvidia XN8600GTS GeForce or an ATI Radeon X1950GT, both with 256 MB of RAM own VGA and DVI outputs, and be priced around U.S. $ $ 785 without monitor.

Of course, you can configure devices with varying performance, adjusting the budget available.

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