Absolute Beginners Guide to Upgrading and Fixing Your PC

What type of PC you buy depends on how you want to use it. Using your computer to check email and surf the Web doesn't require near the horsepower than if you're playing the latest graphics-intensive multi-player games. You need to match your system requirements to the applications you plan to run.

Most computer users fall into one of the following categories:

• Surfer. You use your PC primarily to surf the Web and send and receive email. Your needs are minimal; a low-end (sub-$1,000) PC should suffice.

• Worker. You use your PC to access the Internet and to run traditional desktop applications, such as word processors, spreadsheets, and financial management programs. You don't need a real powerful PC for these purposes; a low-end PC should suffice although you probably want to get a CD-R/RW drive for storing your application data.

• Music Lover. You use your PC as a high-tech audio system. You listen to music CDs, download music from the Internet, and even burn your own mix CDs. You need a machine with a good sound card (24-bit is nice), a quality stereo speaker system (including a subwoofer), a CD burner, and a big hard disk to hold all those MP3 files!

• Student. You're a blend of the surfer, the worker, and the music lover. You use the Internet to keep in touch with friends and family; use desktop applications to do homework and write reports; and listen to and burn a lot of music in your spare time. In addition, you probably use your PC to watch movies and play games when classes are done for the day. You don't need a lot of processing power for all this, but you do need a machine with a CD burner and DVD drive, and maybe even a PC camera (for all that after-school video messaging).

  tip

  If you're a student with a few extra bucks to spend, a PC running Windows XP Media Center is an interesting approach. This type of PC includes a built-in TV tuner and can function as an all-in-one entertainment center for the typically space-constrained dorm room.

• Audio/video enthusiast. You use your computer to edit and store digital photographs, and to edit digital video movies. You want a fast processor, a big hard disk (two, ideally, with the second one dedicated to video editing), and lots of memory. You'll also want your new PC to include a FireWire connection, a DVD burner, a video capture card/device, a TV tuner, and a versatile memory card reader.

  tip

  Hard-core gamers should check out the ultra-high end machines available from specialty manufacturers such as Alienware (www.alienware.com), Falcon Northwest (www.falcon-nw.com), and Voodoo PC (www.voodoopc.com). A typical top-of-the-line model is tricked out with a 3GHz Pentium 4 or Athlon XP processor, 1GB RAM, multiple 120GB hard drives, 6.1 speaker system, 512MB nVidia video card, and 19-inch LCD monitor. You'll get incredible raw performance and truly unique styling, but at a price expect to pay anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 for one of these custom-built screamers.

• Gamer. You push your system to the limits playing all the latest PC games. You want to buy the best system you can afford, with particular attention to your video card, sound card, and speaker system. (Surround sound is a must and the new 6.1 systems are better than old-fashioned 4.1 and 5.1 surround.) Style is probably important to you; many machines for gamers come in really cool shapes and colors.

Table 18.1 shows the type of system that best fits each of these users.

Naturally, you can add to any of these systems for your particular needs. You'll need some sort of printer (color for family use, black and white for work) and (ideally) a broadband Internet connection. In addition, if you intend to connect your new PC to a home network, you'll want to add an Ethernet card (for a wired network) or wireless network adapter (for a wireless network), along with the appropriate hub or router. Increase your budget accordingly.

"Mike Sez"