Purchasing A PC Where, What, Why and How

Where can you learn More? Hardware Support Course # Involves maintaining, upgrading and repairing Intel-based computers and exploring functions and interrelations between components. It also examines component care, system improvement, troubleshooting and failure identification. Computer Defense Course # Examines various ways that malicious software can infect or attack computers. Also explores how to identify and implement methods to avoid these attacks. Hardware Support Course # Involves maintaining, upgrading and repairing Intel-based computers and exploring functions and interrelations between components. It also examines component care, system improvement, troubleshooting and failure identification. Computer Defense Course # Examines various ways that malicious software can infect or attack computers. Also explores how to identify and implement methods to avoid these attacks.

Decisions $$$ Money $$$ Features Needed Performance Software Support Vendor $$$ Money $$$ Features Needed Performance Software Support Vendor

Features Desktop or Laptop Form Factor Mini-Tower Desktop Small Ultra-Small Operating System Windows XP (Home/Media Center/Pro) Vista (versions)versions Linux Desktop or Laptop Form Factor Mini-Tower Desktop Small Ultra-Small Operating System Windows XP (Home/Media Center/Pro) Vista (versions)versions Linux

Hardware Central Processing Unit (CPU) Memory Hard Drive Storage Optical Storage Video Card Removable Storage Flat Panel Monitor Printer Central Processing Unit (CPU) Memory Hard Drive Storage Optical Storage Video Card Removable Storage Flat Panel Monitor Printer

CPU’s More $$$ buys you better performance Do you need the fastest CPU available? Graphics Video Editing Games Mid-level performance will give best price/performance and long term use (3-5 years) Low cost machines – good for low impact applications (Office Suite apps) More $$$ buys you better performance Do you need the fastest CPU available? Graphics Video Editing Games Mid-level performance will give best price/performance and long term use (3-5 years) Low cost machines – good for low impact applications (Office Suite apps)

Price versus Performance Source:

Deciphering the Spec’s Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E6700 (2.66GHz, 4M, 1066MHz FSB) Means CPU Model = E6700 It runs at 2,660,000,000 cycles/second It has 4 Megabytes of internal cache It communicates with memory at 1066MHz Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E6700 (2.66GHz, 4M, 1066MHz FSB) Means CPU Model = E6700 It runs at 2,660,000,000 cycles/second It has 4 Megabytes of internal cache It communicates with memory at 1066MHz

Operating System Windows XP Home / Media Center Professional Windows Vista Home Basic Premium Business Ultimate Linux Windows XP Home / Media Center Professional Windows Vista Home Basic Premium Business Ultimate Linux

Memory General Rule - More is better! Windows XP 512MB – Minimum 1GB – Best General Purpose 2-4GB – Graphics / Video Editing Windows Vista Can run 512M – Not recommended! 1GB – Best General Purpose 2-4GB – Graphics / Video Editing General Rule - More is better! Windows XP 512MB – Minimum 1GB – Best General Purpose 2-4GB – Graphics / Video Editing Windows Vista Can run 512M – Not recommended! 1GB – Best General Purpose 2-4GB – Graphics / Video Editing

Memory Spec’s Explained 2GB DDR2 Non-ECC SDRAM,800MHz, (2 DIMM) Means 2 Gigabytes of temporary storage DDR2 – Double Data Rate Non-ECC = It is not Error checking and correcting – ECC RAM memory is used for servers and costs more. SDRAM - Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory 800Mhz – The speed data is transferred to the CPU (Faster = Better) 2 DIMM – The memory comes as two 1 GB sticks of memory 2GB DDR2 Non-ECC SDRAM,800MHz, (2 DIMM) Means 2 Gigabytes of temporary storage DDR2 – Double Data Rate Non-ECC = It is not Error checking and correcting – ECC RAM memory is used for servers and costs more. SDRAM - Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory 800Mhz – The speed data is transferred to the CPU (Faster = Better) 2 DIMM – The memory comes as two 1 GB sticks of memory

Hard Drive Current average size is 200GB drive If you are storing many photos or video, buy more storage (500GB or more) You may want to add another drive for on-line backup. Organizing your files is key to finding your files. Current average size is 200GB drive If you are storing many photos or video, buy more storage (500GB or more) You may want to add another drive for on-line backup. Organizing your files is key to finding your files.

Optical Storage At a minimum get a 16X (Transfer Speed) DVD drive. Get a DVD+/-RW if you plan on backing up files to DVD. + = DVD+R media - = DVD-R media RW means Read and Write Make sure you get software for moving files to DVD (Roxio or Nero Burning ROM) At a minimum get a 16X (Transfer Speed) DVD drive. Get a DVD+/-RW if you plan on backing up files to DVD. + = DVD+R media - = DVD-R media RW means Read and Write Make sure you get software for moving files to DVD (Roxio or Nero Burning ROM)

Video Card For business applications, the onboard video may work fine. If using MS Vista and you want the full User Interface experience – get a video card with at least 256MB RAM. DVI – needed for best viewing using a flat panel display Dual monitor support if you plan on using more than one monitor, For business applications, the onboard video may work fine. If using MS Vista and you want the full User Interface experience – get a video card with at least 256MB RAM. DVI – needed for best viewing using a flat panel display Dual monitor support if you plan on using more than one monitor,

Flat Panel Monitor Smaller desktop footprint More energy efficient Big decision is size (diagonal measurement) 17” Good general purpose 19”- 20” Good for long term viewing Aspect Ratio Normal Aspect Ratio (4:3) Widescreen Aspect Ratio (16:9) Rotation Smaller desktop footprint More energy efficient Big decision is size (diagonal measurement) 17” Good general purpose 19”- 20” Good for long term viewing Aspect Ratio Normal Aspect Ratio (4:3) Widescreen Aspect Ratio (16:9) Rotation

Removable Storage Memory stick for transporting files 1-2 Gigabytes $20-$40 Memory stick for transporting files 1-2 Gigabytes $20-$40

Printer Low Volume – Color Ink jet printers - $0.03-$0.05 per page + Cheap to purchase + Good Quality - Ink Cartridges Expensive - Ink is not waterfast – will run if it gets wet. - Cannot handle high volumes Low Volume – Color Ink jet printers - $0.03-$0.05 per page + Cheap to purchase + Good Quality - Ink Cartridges Expensive - Ink is not waterfast – will run if it gets wet. - Cannot handle high volumes

Printers High Volume Laser Printer - $0.01 per page $100 -  + Good Quality +/- Toner Cartridges Expensive – but last much longer that Ink - Toner is waterfast – won’t run if it gets wet. - Can handle high volumes – depnding on model purchased High Volume Laser Printer - $0.01 per page $100 -  + Good Quality +/- Toner Cartridges Expensive – but last much longer that Ink - Toner is waterfast – won’t run if it gets wet. - Can handle high volumes – depnding on model purchased

Printers All-in-One Printers Incorporate Printer/FAX/Scanner in one unit Usually Ink Jet based Upside – You get all the functions in one unit. Downside if one function breaks – you may lose all! All-in-One Printers Incorporate Printer/FAX/Scanner in one unit Usually Ink Jet based Upside – You get all the functions in one unit. Downside if one function breaks – you may lose all!

Software Anti-Virus Anti-Malware Office Suite Anti-Virus Anti-Malware Office Suite

Anti-Virus Needed to prevent infection of your PC by viruses that you may receive via e- mail attachments or other sources. Common Sources Symantec Anti-Virus McAfee Anti-Virus AVG ( Trend Micro Keep these updated! Needed to prevent infection of your PC by viruses that you may receive via e- mail attachments or other sources. Common Sources Symantec Anti-Virus McAfee Anti-Virus AVG ( Trend Micro Keep these updated!

Malware Generally software that gets installed on your PC without your knowledge. May piggyback with legitimate software. To detect and correct use... Spy Sweeper Pest Patrol Windows Defender (free) AdAware ( SpyBot ( Generally software that gets installed on your PC without your knowledge. May piggyback with legitimate software. To detect and correct use... Spy Sweeper Pest Patrol Windows Defender (free) AdAware ( SpyBot (

Office Suites Includes all of the programs need for general office work Word Processing Spreadsheet Presentation Software Client Database (optional) Includes all of the programs need for general office work Word Processing Spreadsheet Presentation Software Client Database (optional)

Office Suites Microsoft Office Microsoft Office Professional Adds Access (database) Open Office (free!) ( somewhat interoperable with the Microsoft Suite. Microsoft Office Microsoft Office Professional Adds Access (database) Open Office (free!) ( somewhat interoperable with the Microsoft Suite.

Support Generally, long term support contracts not needed. If something is going to fail – it will in the first few weeks of operation. Network with friends for a local support company for times when you need someone to look at the machine. Generally, long term support contracts not needed. If something is going to fail – it will in the first few weeks of operation. Network with friends for a local support company for times when you need someone to look at the machine.

PC Magazine Survey Source:

PC Magazine Survey

Misc. Items Surge Protector Should handle at least 1800 joules Have enough outlets for all of your equipment UPS Allows you computer to shutdown gracefully in case of power loss. May incorporate surge protection. Surge Protector Should handle at least 1800 joules Have enough outlets for all of your equipment UPS Allows you computer to shutdown gracefully in case of power loss. May incorporate surge protection.

Where can you learn More? Hardware Support Course # Computer Defense Course # Doug Waterman Hardware Support Course # Computer Defense Course # Doug Waterman