Buyers Guide
Looking to buy a new desktop PC system? This guide covers the main components which make up a desktop computer system. Giving you detailed information to make an informed purchasing decision.
If you need furher help visit our forums, click live help on the left or email us.
Processor (CPU)
The Processer or CPU is by far the component that has the most affect on performance of your system. It does everything from basic tasks such as rendering a video to advanced functions such as playing a new game. This is why it is vital you choose one that has an optimal performance to price ratio.
For many years there have been two major competitors in this market and those are AMD and Intel, both comp
anies have amazing an amazing CPU catalogue to choose from. These days Intel has the lead in terms of cutting technology causing AMD to turn more towards the value oriented market. There are also some slight differences in how the CPUs work and that is that AMD has a built in memory controller which allows a direct connection between the CPU and the Memory. Intel on the other hand has smaller die sizes which allows the processor to run cooler and on less energy allowing them to bump up the potential performance. In order to choose which one is right for you just see which processer has the performance and price you are looking for and rest assured no matter what brand it is it will be the right one for you.
In past years people thought that just increasing CPU frequency would lead them to into the future; this was in fact wrong and there had to be some way of achieving higher performance. The way they solved is problem is by introducing multiple cores which basically took two processors and made them into one. Now are available are CPU's with upto 6 cores and 12 threads, which allow us to become a lot more productive and run multiple programs with ease.
Most customers will be opting for a quad-core CPU which gives them excellent performance in most programs. There are some disadvantages with multi-core CPUs and one is that the programs on your computer have to be specially designed for them to take full advantage of your state of the art CPU. Even though these programs run fine on quad-core CPUs a dual-core that runs at a faster frequency may be more affordable and run older programs with higher performance.
A CPUs performance is based on three things, the amount of cores, the frequency and the amount of cache a processer has. The frequency is measured in GHz and is usually anywhere between 1.8 - 3+ GHz. CPU frequency determines the speed that all of the cores run at. Most users will naturally want a CPU that runs at a faster frequency to have all the performance the CPU can possibly produce.
CPU cache is basically a very small amount of memory imbedded inside the CPU which allows for quicker access of frequently used data. It does this by storing information in the cache and not having to turn to the memory to get the information it needs. This is why a larger amount of cache is very desirable for todays processers.
This chart shows the differences between the various AMD and Intel series.
Processer Line |
Performance Rating |
Description |
| |
|
|
Intel |
|
|
Intel Core Duo
Intel Core Quad |
|
Advanced dual-core CPU & Older Quad-Core Design
-Great for General Gaming and Advanced Computing
-Very proven architecture |
Intel Core i3
|
|
-Great power efferent CPU
-Based on cutting edge dual-core technology, with on board graphics |
Intel Core i5
|
|
-Come in dual-core and quad-core designs
-Based on cutting edge technology |
Intel Core i7
|
|
-Fastest line of processors available
-Great for pretty much everything |
AMD |
|
|
AMD Athlon II
|
|
-Very affordable
-Great for general computing
-Comes both in Quad and Dual Core designs |
AMD Phenom II
|
|
-High Performance per price Ratio
-Great for gaming and advanced computing |
Graphics Card
The Graphics Card (Also called the GPU or the VGA) is a vital part in a computer these days and as applications become more graphics oriented, the Graphics Card will play an even bigger role in your systems performance. Most motherboards come with onboard video and this will prove enough for some people, but for others this will limit their HD video playback and gaming performance. This is why we recommend upgrading to at least a budget Graphics card. Most of these Graphics Cards will do HD video with no problem but for a
custom built gaming pc we recommend going for a Graphics Card that has a performance rating of over 10,000 on the chart below.
In terms of different brands, there are only two in the Graphics Card field right now. Nvidia and ATI, both of these manufactures provide excellent cards and are currently neck and neck in terms of performance, value and features. However there are some slight differences between the two and that is that Nvidia has a special technology called PHSX that allow some games to have real life physics such as the waves of an ocean or bullets penetrating a surface. Nvidia also has Cuda which allows you to use your Nvidia graphics card to give specific applications more power. ATI on the other hand has the ability of running two completely different graphics in crossfire (For Nvidia you must have two graphics cards that are the exact same) as well as running up to six individual monitors of off one graphics card (HD 5870 2GB Eyefinity). Both ATI and Nvidia offer amazing deals on graphics cards and it really is up to our customer to see which one has the features and performance that they are looking for.
If you need advice selecting a graphics card you can ask other customers in our
forum or email
sales@computerplanet.co.uk
While ATI and Nvidia do provide all of the chips of the graphics card it is up to other companies such as Asus, XFX or PALIT to provide and select all of the outputs, accessories, cooling and support. There are a lot of different choices in this category and before selecting the card you want make sure it includes every feature and accessory that you find important.
You must also look into the amount and speed of memory of a graphics card because this affects performance in higher resolutions. This is why Nvidia and ATI release different versions of the same card, with different amounts of memory. If you are running games at a lower resolution you may want to save money from the Graphics Card and put it into your CPU or motherboard. These days a good amount of memory for the average user is anywhere above 512MB and for performance users that are running above 1680 x 1050 we recommend going above the 1 Gigabyte mark. The speed of the memory is also important because even though you may have a lot it doesn’t mean anything if it is slow. We recommend having either GDDR3 or above to make sure all of that memory isn’t being bottlenecked.
For advanced performance you can connect two graphics cards together using SLI or CrossfireX technology to increase performance. When purchasing your computer we recommend selecting one good card instead of two midrange ones in SLI or Crossfire because this will probably be more price efficient and will ensure that you can always get another card when the performance of the one isn’t meeting your needs. Click
here custom build an
SLI PC or
here for a
CrossFireX PC.
This graph below shows the performance of different graphics cards, this is a very valuable tool when looking for a graphics card in a certain price range.
This performance index is based on a 3Dmark 06 GPU performance rating running at 1280 x 1024. A SLI or CrossfireX performance boost is more noticeable the higher resolution you are running at.
Power Supply
A power supply unit or PSU is an essential part to any computer. It provides all of the components with the power they need to operate. A power supply that is too small will cause your system to become unstable, and if it is much too small a computer may not even boot up. Power supply’s come in many different brands and configurations. Most power supplies are measured in wattage. This is a great way to compare power supplies because it is very easy to understand.
This simple chart will help you understand roughly what kind of power supply you need.
Type of Computer |
Recommended Wattage |
Description |
Average User |
400 to 700 Watts |
A computer with any kind of CPU, A single Graphics Card and a extra hard drive |
Power User |
700 to 1000 Watts |
A computer with a powerful quad core CPU, and a SLI or Crossfire configuration |
Extreme User |
1000+ Watts |
A computer with a triple SLI or Crossfire setup and pretty much anything else you want. |
Paying for a brand name power supply is usually worth it, because they usually deliver cleaner power which will put less stress on your components. We offer a choice between unbranded and OCZ or Cooler Master brands.
Power Supply Features
While the Wattage is the most important part of any Power Supply, there are also many additional features that some power supplies include Modular Cable Management- This allows you to connect only the cables that you need from your power supply allowing for a much cleaner looking case. This is excellent when working with a smaller PC because it allows for much better airflow.
80+ Rating- This is basically an energy efficiency rating that will ensure your PC is using as little electricity as possible allowing you to save on your electricity bill. This is great for people who will be running their computer for long hours.
Hard Drives
Hard drives are components that store information that can be accessed at a later time. This includes all of the programs on the computer, the operating system, all of your personal data such as videos, pictures, music and documents. Investing in a large hard drive is a very smart idea because it allows you to store a lot of data into the future and not have to worry about deleting seemingly unimportant files and programs. With the low cost of hard drives these days we recommend having at least 500 GB of storage.
Hard drives are usually always measured in capacity, thus making it really easy to choose how much storage you need. Another great thing about hard drives is that you can always purchase another one if you are running out of space allowing you to always upgrade.
Most SATA hard drives spin at 7200 RPM. If you are an advanced gamer or looking for fast read and write access to the hard drive then we offer a range of 10000 RPM raptor hard drives.
Another alternative to the standard hard drive is a Solid State Drive (SSD) which has no spinning platter at all causing them to be silent, very energy efficient and have extremely fast read and write times. There are also big downsides to this choice because this technology is still new it is very expensive and can only hold very little data when compared to a normal hard drive. One amazing choice is too get one hard drive and one SSD allowing you to put all your commonly used programs and operating system on the SSD and store all of the less used data on the hard drive, allowing you to have the best of both worlds.
The third and final alternative to the standard single hard drive is RAID array which allows for either greater speed or greater security. A RAID 0 array joins the two hard drives and splits information on to both of them. One downside of this is that if one hard drive fails all of the data is lost. Your second option in the RAID category is a RAID 1 setup which allows for the drives to be mirrored thus making your data a lot more secure because if one fails all of the data is backed up. One downside to this is that you lose half of your potential storage space. In order to setup a Raid configuration you need to have two hard drives that are both the same size.
As you can see there are many different options in the hard drive department allowing you to select one that fits your needs. A single hard drive is probably the right choice for most people looking to purchase a
custom built computer right now.
Computer Cases
Computer cases are the complete exterior of your computer. A proper computer case should have enough room to fit all your current parts and enough space to upgrade your system in the future. A proper case should also provide proper air flow allowing all of your components to stay at optimal temperature. A case should also look presentable and not just be a boring beige box. These days there are many different types of computer cases that come in many different sizes, shapes and colours.
Case Sizes
Mini Tower- These are smaller cases that require a smaller motherboard that has 4 expansion slots. This is a popular choice because it is just enough for a lot of people and can even be used for a modest gaming PC setup.
Mid Tower- This is the most popular choice because it uses a standard ATX motherboard, which allows for maximum compatibility. A mid tower can pretty much serve any role from a basic web surfing PC to a SLI or Crossfire beast.
Full Tower- This case allows for an extended ATX motherboard, tons of hard drives and up to three massive graphics cards. These cases are massive but they sure are great if you can find a place to put it, because of their amazing air flow.
Cube PC- The small form factor (SFF) cube based PC offers you a much smaller case than traditional tower cases. The Cube PC is ideal in space-limited areas where normal computers cannot be placed and for mobile applications such as LAN parties.
Some people are happy with a basic, plain looking case. Others take pride in their gaming cases appearance, and customize them with extras such as glowing lights, fancy colours, see-through sides, and a number of other features. It is usually passionate gamers who do this sort of customizing to their gaming computer cases.
There are also specially designed silent computer cases that include noise dampening material that is extremely useful when you are watching movies and don’t want to be distracted by the air friction produced by your fans. To custom build a PC using a silent PC case please click
here.
CPU Cooling
In order for any custom built PC component to function properly it must be running at a proper temperature. The CPU is no exception and requires a heat sink and a fan to ensure it does not overheat. Now there are a lot of different choices on the market in terms of CPU cooling and we will try to explain some of the basic concepts.
The Heat Sink- This is the metal part of the CPU cooler that helps to disperse heat off from the CPU. Sometimes the heat sink is all made out of one piece of metal, other time it has something known as heat pipes, these are long strips of metal (usually copper) that absorb heat and spread it down into the fins of the heat sink. The fins are designed to radiate as much heat of them as possible allowing the CPU to stay cool.
The Fan- The fan is usually placed over the heat sink and moves hot air off the heat sink and away from the CPU. The larger the fan the more air it can displace thus causing it to be more effective but also produce more noise. The great thing about fans is that they auto adjust too always keep your CPU temperature cool.
Using a stock Intel or AMD fan is usually sufficient but we recommend upgrading to an aftermarket cooler because they allow the CPU to stay lower at a lower temperature when under load, which will in turn boost your CPU performance and also put a lot less stress on your CPU.
We do also offer a professional liquid setup that will keep your CPU extremely cool and is only recommended to the hardcore overclockers and gamers.
Memory
Memory is an essential part of any computer. It allows for programs to respond quickly and will overall help you to maximize your efficiency while working with your computer. These days there are primarily two choices in this category and that is DDR2 and DDR3.
DDR2- This is the older memory standard that is more compatible and cheaper. For most people this choice will be sufficient but we do recommend going for DDR3 because of its faster performance and also the fact that DDR3 is the standard we will be using for many years to come.
DDR3- This is what most consumers will be going for these days. It allows for lower voltages, faster access times and also tri-channel memory. Choosing between this and DDR2 is all dependant on your budget and how long you want your ne PC to stay competitive with the ever changing market.
Now that you have chosen between DDR3 and DDR2 we need to learn memory speed. While purchasing too much memory is a bad idea, because it can easily be spent in a better place such as CPU or GPU, it is still important that you have fast memory to allow programs to respond very quickly with minimal delay.
Below is a chart comparing the most commonly available memory and there speeds.
DDR2 |
Speed |
PC2 6400 |
800 MHz |
PC2 8500 |
1066MHz |
DDR3 |
|
PC3 6400 |
800 MHz |
PC3 8500 |
1066 MHz |
PC3 10666 |
1333 MHz |
PC3 12800 |
1600 MHz |
Memory features
Multi-Channel Memory: This technology is basically two different memory sticks working together to increase your performance by reducing latency between the CPU and the actual memory. It is recommended you make use of this technology as much as possible, because it is basically a free performance gain. Most motherboards support dual channel memory and new custom built i7 computers can now have three memory channels. Dual channel technology is available on DDR2 and DDR3 sticks and Tri Channel memory is exclusive to DDR3 technology.
It is recommended that the average user has at least 2 gigabytes of Ram. This will allow you to run multiple programs with ease. When choosing a system with more than 3 gigabytes of ram be sure to choose a 64 bit operating system to ensure that all of the memory is recognized. To choose between DDR2 and DDR3 based PC you can easily select on our customise page.
Optical Drive
An optical drive is a piece of hardware that is located in your case which allows your computer to read and write DVDs, CDs, and advanced Blu-ray disks.
DVD-Rom Drive- These DVD drives allow you to read DVDs and CDs. These drives are not recommended because even though you may not think you will want to write a DVD or CD in the near future, for a couple of pounds more you can easily future proof your computer.
DVD-RW Drive- This is the most popular choice of optical drive because most people have no need for a Blu-ray drive in their computer. They allow you to easily burn and read all types of DVD’s and CDs.
Blu-Ray Drive- These are the most expensive but most future proof choice because they allow you to read and on specific drives write your own Blu-Ray disks. This is a great way to back-up extensive amounts of data and to also to watch movies in a stunning 1080p. You can select from a cheaper Blu-Ray reader which will only read discs or a Blu-Ray writer which will read and write disks.
Other Features
SATA vs. IDE- Most new DVD drives use SATA because they allow for a cleaner case by using a thinner cable. We would recommend leaning towards the SATA option so your case has better airflow and also allows for a much easier upgrade process if you ever want to install another hard drive or DVD drive.
Lightscribe- The new Lightscribe technology allows you to burn a disk, flip it, put it back in your Optical Drive and your Optical Drive will use a laser to etch a image of your choice onto the front of the disk allowing for professional looking disks, right from your personal computer. Do note that you will have to buy special lightscribe disks if you want to have an image on the front of your disk.
Operating System
The operating system is the piece of software that allows your computer to be used by you. From the moment you press that power button you are in the operating system so it is very important that you choose one that you feel comfortable with.
Windows XP- This is the oldest of the three and is already somewhat outdated, the reason it is still available is because of its professional looking interface and its unmatched stability. Current versions available are XP Home 32 BIT and XP Professional 32 BIT.
Windows 7- This is Microsoft’s latest operating system and it takes what they learned with Vista and introduces new features, such as the easier to use taskbar that make switching between programs a lot easier. The operating system is also a lot more light weight allowing you to boot up much quicker saving tons of time when you just want to quickly check your e-mail, or the weather. Current versions available are Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate and all available in 32 BIT or 64 BIT editions.
We recommend that all customers use the 64 bit version of their selected operating system because of increased expandability. This is because all 32 bit operating systems can only see 3 gigabytes of memory so if you ever upgrade past 3 gigabytes, Windows will not be able to access the added memory.
The most popular version we sell is Windows 7 Home Premium 64 BIT.
Our customers also always have the option of not having an operating system installed and doing it themselves when they receive there PC.
