Iowa State University IT

Basic Computer Purchasing Guide

The key to buying a computer is making certain you are getting at least the minimum requirements to fulfill your needs, and from there, finding the best value. Consider these general guidelines when purchasing a computer:

  1. Determine your minimum requirements based on what software you will be using and what the minimum requiremnts of that software is. Most new computers are more than capable of handling common software tasks such as email, web browsing, and word processing. Non-standard software may require you to increase your minimum requirements.
  2. Research computers in your price range that meet or exceed your minimum requirements. Iowa State University recommends Apple, Dell, and Gateway, which are sold through Tech CYte.
  3. Choose a model balancing value and performance. The model you select should last three to five years (an acceptable life-span for a computer). Bottom-of-the-line models may become obsolete fast, and top-of-the-line models are usually much more expensive for little performance over lesser models. Find a happy medium.
  4. Make sure you get enough memory. Today's general purpose computers come standard with 512 MB, but memory prices have come down, so you may want to consider paying a little extra for 1GB or more.
  5. Make sure you have enough storage. For most business use, where data is stored on a separate server, most standard hard drives provide adequate space for your operating system and applications. For personal use, however, consider spending a few extra dollars to accommodate files such as digital photos and music.
  6. Consider a recordable optical drive. CD or DVD drives that record are valuable for sharing and backing-up your files. A recordable DVD can hold much more data than a recordable CD for little added cost.
  7. Select a monitor based on your preference and comfort. A minimum resolution of 1024x768 is necessary Be aware that flat LCD displays look their best when operating at their maximum/native resolution. Look for a ratio of the resolution to size of screen that displays text and icons at a size that you are comfortable with. LCDs can look blury when operated at lower-than-native resolutions. Choose according to what looks good to you on a particular size of screen.