🖥️ Expert Advice: Buying a new computer | How to buy a computer | PC Shopping Guide 💡

Summary

In this informative video, Jason, an experienced I.T. professional, guides viewers on selecting a new computer by emphasizing the importance of the processor (CPU), memory, and hard drive type. He advises on finding the best deals in office stores and online, recommending solid-state drives for faster performance. Jason also shares tips for comparing processors using cpubenchmark.net and suggests considering pre-built PCs for general use, while noting their limitations for gaming. He concludes with advice on choosing Macs and laptops, stressing the importance of initial specifications for long-term performance.

Takeaways

• 💡 When purchasing a new computer, look for sales and discounts at office supply stores like Best Buy.
• 🧠 Prioritize the processor (CPU) as it's the 'brain' of the computer; a faster CPU equates to a faster overall system.
• 💾 Aim for a minimum of 8GB of RAM for most uses, but 16GB is preferable for more demanding tasks like video editing or gaming.
• 🚀 Opt for a solid-state drive (SSD) over traditional hard drives for significantly faster performance and quicker boot times.
• 🛒 Check for 'in-stock' or 'in-store pickup' options to find popular, current models that are likely to perform well.
• 🔍 Filter search results by Intel processors for a straightforward choice between i3, i5, and i7 chips, which correspond to increasing power.
• 💻 Consider the total storage capacity; while SSDs are fast, they often come in smaller sizes, so balance speed with storage needs.
• 💰 Look for deals that offer high-performance components at a discount, such as a computer with an i7 processor and an SSD on sale.
• 🔧 Use websites like cpubenchmark.net to compare processor speeds and ensure you're getting the best performance for your budget.
• 🖥️ For Mac users, the choice is simplified by Apple's own chips like the M1, but still consider upgrades in RAM and storage for future-proofing.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of Jason's video?

The main purpose of Jason's video is to guide customers on how to choose a new computer by focusing on important specifications and finding the best deals.

What are the three important factors Jason mentions to consider when buying a computer?

The three important factors Jason mentions are the processor (CPU), the amount of memory (RAM), and the type and size of the hard drive, with a preference for solid state drives (SSDs).

Why does Jason recommend looking for computers that are on sale at office stores?

Jason recommends looking for computers on sale at office stores because they often have machines at great prices due to weekly sales, which can offer significant discounts like $200 off.

What does Jason suggest about the size of the hard drive for a new computer?

Jason suggests that for a new computer, a solid state drive (SSD) is almost a must-have and recommends against drives smaller than 256 gigabytes, with 512 gigabytes or 1 terabyte being preferable for most users.

How does Jason feel about AMD processors compared to Intel processors?

Jason finds Intel processors more straightforward and easier to understand in terms of performance compared to AMD processors, which he finds a bit more confusing to navigate.

What is Jason's advice on the processor when buying a computer?

Jason advises to choose an Intel processor, preferably an i5 or i7, and to look for the highest generation number possible for better performance.

How does Jason recommend narrowing down the selection of computers online?

Jason recommends narrowing down the selection by choosing 'In stock for delivery' or 'In store for pickup', sorting by price, and filtering out low-powered chips like Pentium or Celeron.

What website does Jason suggest using to compare processor performance?

Jason suggests using cpubenchmark.net to compare processor performance and understand the speed differences between various CPU models.

Why does Jason say that pre-built desktops from retail stores may not be suitable for gaming?

Jason says pre-built desktops may not be suitable for gaming because they often have a limited power supply and lack the space to accommodate a high-performance graphics card necessary for gaming.

What advice does Jason give for buying a Mac computer?

For buying a Mac, Jason advises focusing on the same three factors: processor, memory, and storage, and recommends upgrading the memory and storage at the time of purchase since these cannot be changed later.

Outlines

00:00

💻 Choosing the Right Computer

Jason, an experienced I.T. professional, offers advice on purchasing a new computer. He suggests looking for sales at office stores like Best Buy and emphasizes three key factors: the processor (CPU), memory (RAM), and the type of hard drive, favoring solid-state drives (SSDs) for their speed and reliability. He guides viewers on how to navigate through retailer websites to find the best deals and explains the significance of Intel processor series (i3, i5, i7), recommending higher series numbers for better performance.

05:01

🛒 Navigating Retailer Websites for Computer Deals

Jason demonstrates how to effectively search for desktop computers on retailer websites like Office Depot, focusing on in-stock options and filtering results by Intel processors for clarity. He advises on sorting by price and scrutinizing specifications like processor speed, memory capacity, and hard drive size. He warns against low-end processors like Pentium and Celeron and suggests aiming for at least an i3 or i5. Jason also explains the value of SSDs over traditional mechanical drives and how to identify good deals by comparing listed prices with original retail values.

10:04

📊 Benchmarking Processors for Performance

To ensure selecting the fastest processor, Jason introduces cpubenchmark.net as a tool for comparing processor speeds. He illustrates how to find the exact processor model on a computer's spec sheet, copy its details, and use the website to get a performance score. By comparing scores, buyers can make informed decisions on which computer offers better value. Jason uses an HP Envy desktop and a Lenovo Idea Center as examples to show the performance difference between an i5 and an i7 processor.

15:09

🍎 Considerations for Buying a Mac

Jason briefly addresses purchasing an iMac, highlighting the simplicity of choosing an Apple computer due to the standardized nature of their offerings. He points out the importance of considering upgrades, particularly for memory and storage, to ensure the computer remains efficient and capable in the long term. He suggests opting for at least 16GB of RAM and a 512GB or 1TB SSD for future-proofing. The video concludes with a reminder of the three critical factors in any computer purchase: processor, memory, and storage, and an invitation for viewers to engage with the content by liking, subscribing, and commenting.

Keywords

💡Processor or CPU

The processor, also known as the CPU (Central Processing Unit), is the primary component of a computer that performs most of the processing inside the computer. It is often referred to as the 'brain' of the computer. In the context of the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of a fast processor for overall computer speed, suggesting that a faster CPU will result in a faster and more efficient machine. The video mentions different levels of Intel processors such as i3, i5, and i7, indicating that a higher number correlates with a more powerful and capable processor.

💡Memory

Memory, or RAM (Random Access Memory), refers to the computer's short-term data storage used for running applications and storing data that is readily accessible by the CPU. The video script highlights the significance of having sufficient memory, recommending 8 or 16 gigabytes for a computer to be considered up to spec. The speaker also touches upon the benefits of having more memory for intensive applications like Photoshop or Premiere Pro, where additional RAM can enhance performance.

💡Hard Drive Type and Size

The hard drive type and size are crucial factors in a computer's performance and storage capacity. The video discusses the transition from traditional mechanical hard drives to solid-state drives (SSDs), which have no moving parts and offer significantly faster read/write speeds. The speaker advises that a new computer should ideally have an SSD, as it greatly reduces boot-up times and overall system responsiveness. The size of the hard drive is also important, with the speaker suggesting that 512 gigabytes is a good minimum, while 1 terabyte is preferred for those needing more storage.

💡Solid State Drive (SSD)

A solid state drive (SSD) is a type of non-volatile storage device that stores data on interconnected flash memory. Unlike traditional hard disk drives, SSDs have no moving parts, which makes them faster, more durable, and quieter. The video script underscores the importance of SSDs, stating that they are almost a 'must-have' for new computers due to their speed and reliability. The speaker also notes that while SSDs are faster, they tend to be available in smaller sizes compared to traditional hard drives.

💡In Stock for Delivery/In Store for Pickup

These terms relate to the availability options for purchasing a computer. 'In stock for delivery' means the item is available and can be shipped to the customer, while 'in store for pickup' indicates the product is available at a physical store location for immediate collection. The video script suggests using these filters when searching for a computer to narrow down the options to popular and current models that are likely to be of good quality.

💡Intel Processors

Intel processors are a brand of CPUs manufactured by Intel Corporation. The video script mentions Intel processors as a preferred choice due to their straightforward naming and performance indicators, such as i3, i5, and i7, which correspond to different levels of processing power. The speaker suggests that Intel's clear product hierarchy makes it easier for consumers to understand what they are getting when purchasing a new computer.

💡Price Filtering

Price filtering is a method used when shopping online to narrow down product options based on cost. In the video, the speaker uses price filtering as a strategy to find computers within a comfortable budget while also seeking the best value for money. This approach helps identify potential sales or deals that offer more computer power for the same price.

💡Benchmarking

Benchmarking in the context of the video refers to the process of evaluating and comparing the performance of different computer processors. The speaker recommends using a website called cpubenchmark.net to compare the speed and capabilities of different CPUs. This tool helps consumers make informed decisions by understanding the relative performance of different processors before making a purchase.

💡Gaming Computers

A gaming computer is a type of personal computer designed for playing computationally and graphically demanding video games. The video script mentions that while pre-built desktops with good processors and RAM are suitable for general use, they may not be ideal for gaming due to limitations such as power supply capacity and the absence of dedicated graphics cards. The speaker suggests that for gaming, one would need a computer specifically designed and configured for that purpose.

💡Mac Computers

Mac computers are a line of personal computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The video script briefly touches on the process of buying a Mac, emphasizing the importance of the same three factors: processor, memory, and storage. The speaker also mentions Apple's M1 chip as an example of a fast processor in their desktop computers, suggesting that Macs offer a simplified purchasing process due to their limited configuration options.

Highlights

Office stores often have computers on sale at great prices.

Three important factors for a computer are the processor (CPU), memory, and hard drive type.

Intel processors are straightforward with i3, i5, and i7 indicating increasing power.

Solid state drives (SSDs) are recommended over traditional mechanical drives for faster performance.

Office Depot's website can be used to filter computers by 'In stock for delivery' or 'In store for pickup'.

Intel's i7 processor is powerful, but for most users, i5 is a good balance of price and performance.

Avoid low-powered chips like Pentium and Celeron for better performance.

A minimum of 8GB RAM is recommended, with 16GB being ideal for more intensive applications.

SSDs come in smaller sizes, so a 512GB SSD is a good balance for most users.

Use cpubenchmark.net to compare processor speeds for a more informed decision.

Mac computers simplify the processor choice with their M1 chip, known for fast performance.

When buying a Mac, consider upgrading RAM and storage at the time of purchase for future-proofing.

Office stores' pre-built PCs are suitable for home and business use but not ideal for gaming.

For laptops, focus on the same three factors: processor, memory, and hard drive type and speed.

The video provides a comprehensive guide on how to choose a fast desktop or laptop computer.

The presenter encourages viewers to like and subscribe for more informative content.

Transcripts

Hi, my name is Jason. I've been an I.T.  professional since 1992 and a lot of times my  

customers ask me what they should buy when looking  for a new computer, so I thought I'd make this  

video to make it easy and clear to understand.  So what I've learned is that most of the office  

stores, including Best Buy tend to have a machine  that's on sale at a great price. You might get  

$200 off for no reason other than it's the sale  of the week! So why not search around and find the  

best deal we can get. The three really important  things when picking out a computer are first,  

the processor or CPU, that's basically the brain  of the computer and does all the calculations.  

So the faster that is, the faster the overall  computer will be. Second will be how much memory  

the computer has, and in most cases you want 8 or  16 gigabytes to have a machine that's up to spec.  

And then third would be the hard drive type and  size. These days there is a new drive called a  

solid state drive and it has no moving parts and  is hugely faster than those old mechanical drives  

that we had years ago. With solid state discs  you no longer have to wait many minutes for your  

computer to boot up before you can use it, so if  you buy a new computer, you MUST get one of those.  

Not that you have to, but you'll regret it if  you don't. So in shopping for a new computer,  

I have up here different websites such as Office  Depot, Best Buy, Staples. So let's take Office  

Depot for example. On their website we would go  to products, computers, and let's say we're in  

the market for a desktop computer. I'll go ahead  and click on desktop computers and let's say I've  

already got a monitor and everything I need except  for the tower. So let's search for a new tower  

and a lot come up, 722 results, which is way too  many so we want to narrow it down mainly by "In  

stock for delivery" or "In store for pickup". So I  see right here in store for pickup means you could  

literally go to the store and see what it is.  And those tend to be the more popular, current,  

better selling models because it's good enough  for them to keep it on their shelf it must be  

a good machine and not yesterday's old news. So  it looks like we've got 13 results. So what I  

also look for, I don't have anything against AMD  processors but I find the Intel processors are  

just more straightforward on what you get. It's  either the i3, i5 or i7 chip and the higher the  

number you go the more powerful the processor and  more capable it is. It has more cores and a bunch  

of other things that make it faster so i'm going  to only check Intel because AMD's product line is  

a little more confusing to navigate & know what  you're buying. So now we have sorted it down to  

11 computers. We'll choose price, low to high  and then I usually just skim the list looking  

at the price. Of course we don't want to go over  our comfortable level that we're going to pay  

and we also want to see what the most computer we  could get for the money is and possibly identify  

a super sale that lets us get an extra $200 worth  of computer without having to pay the extra $200.  

So looking at this list here, I'm just going  to get a feel for the high end and the low end.  

So on the high end, the better higher processor  is the i7. So I see that a really good setup  

would be this right here Lenovo Idea Center. It's  i7 which is great. That's the higher one there's  

actually an i9 but most of the time you won't find  that out there and don't need it unless you're  

a real power user. This one has 16 gigabytes of  memory which is really good. Normally 8 gigabyte  

is standard and it's all you need but if you need  extra power or you're doing intensive applications  

like desktop publishing, Photoshop, Premiere Pro,  you're gonna want more memory. So having more is a  

benefit to you, so this machine does have the 16  gigabytes of memory. And then the really important  

third thing is the hard drive. So the solid  state drives are really fast and it's almost  

a "must have" these days but they tend to come  out in much smaller sizes than the old mechanical  

drives. So this one for example has a 512 gigabyte  solid state disc, which is half of a terabyte,  

which if you're just a light user don't store tons  and tons of photos and videos on your computer,  

512 gigs is okay. It's usually the one you'll  find commonly on the higher end in the stores.  

I do prefer the 1 terabyte but that can add  a lot more cost and it's harder to find. So  

this would be an overall good system. As  you can see, it's normally $949 and change,  

on sale for no reason today $200 off for $750  so that would be one worth considering. Now  

let's say that that's over your price range  and you don't want to spend quite that much.  

You can go up the list since we're sorted by price  and then I'm just going to eyeball the processor  

and the RAM and the type of hard disk. So first  off, something that disqualifies a computer  

is if the hard drive is too small, like a 128  gigabyte solid state disk. You don't want it.  

That's barely enough to load windows and a few  updates. 256 is kind of pushing it if you're not  

storing much at all and not saving tons of photos.  It might be okay for a while but better yet  

is 512 gigabytes. So looking at our list here I  see we have i5. Don't buy a Pentium, don't buy a  

Celeron. Those are very low powered chips that  you do not want. The i7 is great, the i5 is a  

midline good chip and sometimes even the i3s in  the 10th or 11th generation, they became very  

very fast over the years so you're not missing out  too much even if you get an i3. So the game is you  

just buy the fastest, highest one you can find  that has the specs that you want. So let's see  

if there's any bigger hard drives on there. So, I  see that it's 256. Okay, one terabyte. We'd want  

to make sure that is an SSD (solid-state disk).  One terabyte, so those are worth looking at. So,  

let's say we have an i5, one terabyte, and  they might even have a way to filter it out.

Okay, so what this means: this computer  has a one terabyte mechanical drive,  

but the boot drive that Windows is loaded on is  in addition to the one terabyte. It's a 256 gig  

solid-state drive, so it'll boot up real fast.  Windows is on that C drive; that will be 256 gigs,  

and then there's another hard drive just  sitting in the system that uses the older,  

slower technology. But if you're just throwing  your pictures and files on it, that's not a  

problem. So, this computer might be okay to get  like that. So, we'd have an i5, plenty of speed,  

we've got the eight gigs of memory, which is  pretty good, the price is right, and you've  

got a total of one and a quarter terabyte of space  with the fast boot drive. So, this is actually a  

pretty good deal, and as you can see, $700 retail  price marked down to $549.99. That might just be  

the game they play, but hey, why not save some  money and get more computer while we're at it?

The next thing you can do is once you've  identified a good computer and a good model,  

you can go to competitive stores and do the same  thing. So, to see what they offer, on Best Buy,  

you would click on the search, click on computers,  tablets, computers, laptops, and desktops,  

and all-in-one because remember we're targeting  a desktop computer, and a package will include a  

monitor and everything. Most of the time, people  are just looking for the computers themselves. So,  

I'll say all desktops, and then we want to  narrow it down a little bit because there  

are so many of them. I would just like  to see the ones that are popular and the  

ones that really do sell. So, let's just  say, pick up today. What's in the store?  

This will be an all-in-one, meaning the monitor  and computer and all the components are integrated  

into the monitor. I think those are neat, but if  the screen breaks, the whole computer is shot. So,  

I tend to stay away from them. We  want to sort this list by low to high,  

and then scroll down. Usually, under $500 is  not going to have anything too desirable. See,  

we got the i3, the lower processor. Let's see  if we can sort by the manufacturer here. We go,  

Intel. I just do like the Intel  computers, and I'll scroll down.

It looks like they have a big gap in their prices.  It goes from an open box, that means it's not new.  

We only want new, so we'll click that checkbox  there. So, we have a jump up to $512, and  

I'm not much on the Acer desktops, so I'm going  to skip that one. This is an all-in-one. Okay,  

now we're shooting up over to $779. So, let's  see what that is. That might be a really good  

computer and a really good buy. Actually, I did  sell this computer the other day and set it up  

for a customer, and it worked really well. So,  this is the Intel i5 chip, 12 gigs of memory. So,  

that's more than eight, so that's a plus.  And then it says it has a one terabyte SSD.  

So, that is actually a rare sight for a  manufacturer to have a PC under a thousand  

dollars that has a one terabyte SSD. I don't know  why they charge so much because those chips are  

really not that expensive, but they tend to cost  a lot when you buy it pre-configured. So, this  

would overall be a really good system, with great  specifications. You know, again, the main things:  

the processor is great, the memory is good,  the hard drive is SSD, and it's very fast and  

large. So, I like this computer. My customer  was happy when I sold it to them. So, again,  

the same thing with Staples. You just go through  the methodology to identify, search for computers,  

narrow it down to those three things, and see  what shows up. You might find one that you like.

So, going back to Best Buy, there's a more  advanced trick. I've pretty much told you all you  

need to know for the most part when choosing the  processor. There's a lot of them out there, but  

we're in the 10th and 11th generation or version  of them over the many years. They've had different  

redesigns that make the chip faster and faster.  So, almost anyone you pick now is a very, very  

fast computer compared to even like two or three  years ago. But if we want to know for certain that  

one machine is faster than another computer, we  can really geek out and put the processor into  

a website called cpubenchmark.net, and it'll give  you a performance speed for each computer, kind of  

like a speedometer when you want to compare  how fast is this one, how fast is that one.

So, what we would do on this HP Envy desktop is  scroll down and try to determine exactly which  

processor it is. So, sometimes they're  elusive with it, and they'll just say i5.  

But what you really need is this i5 and then  the number, the i5 dash and the numbers. So,  

that's a 10th generation. It's got the 10,000.  We're going to copy that and then go over to Pass.  

Go to cpubenchmark.net, scroll down, and you  can do a search for your model. Now, this page  

is very large. It has thousands of chips listed,  and we'll go ahead and paste into the box there,  

click find CPU, and then we've got a number.  The one that exactly matches is this top one,  

Intel Core i5 10400 at 2.90 gigahertz,  and the performance speed using their  

system for comparing them is 12,399, or we  could just say around 12,000 as a speed.

So, it's often helpful to click on compare, and  then this little guy shows that we have that in  

our list. Let's say we're comparing that to  another computer, and we want to see which  

one's better. So, let's go back over to Office  Depot. We'll scroll down, and they had a computer  

right here, this Lenovo Idea Idea Center. So,  we'll pull that up and see exactly which chip  

that is. Now, it is i7, so I'd expect it to  be faster than the other one, but it may not  

be that much faster. So, we're going to look  in here and try to identify the exact chip  

that is in this computer. Sometimes you actually  have to go to the web and search in Google. But  

again, here it is, i7 10700. So, we'll copy that,  go back to our benchmark site. You can literally  

just go back to the main page, CPU benchmarks to  get back where we were and search for a model,  

put in the name of this computer, click find  CPU, and then find the exact matching one.

Okay, so this one has a speed rating of  17,253, which is a lot higher. Remember,  

the other one was like 12,300. If you want to  see them side by side, you can click compare,  

and that makes our little comparison scale here  have two items in it. And you'll click on that.  

So here's a side by side. So, we have the i5  on the left, i7 on the right. We'll see that  

we would get performance specifications of  12,399 speed out of the i5 and 17,253 speed  

out of the i7. And if you think of it like a car  speedometer, a higher number is going faster. So,  

this computer on the right, the i7, would  be the better one to buy because for this,  

I think it was the same price.  You're getting a lot more power.

And so then again, you can go back and review  the pros and cons of this. So, we are getting  

a faster processor, the most amount of RAM that  usually you'll find. We are getting less hard disk  

space. So, remember, this is a solid-state drive,  which is very good, but it's half the size of the  

other one. So, as long as you're not storing tons  of videos and pictures, this would actually be a  

great buy and a very fast computer. So, these  pre-built boxes are often great for home use,  

for business use, everything except for gaming.  The reason I say that is the RAM and the processor  

are awesome. They're really fast, up to speed and  everything. But because these are mass-produced  

boxes that sell at a lower price in a retail  store, they're not really designed to be a game  

machine monster itself. You have to buy a real  true game computer to get that kind of level.

The reason being is that these computers have  a power supply that, say, it might only be 250  

watts or 210 watts, which is just enough to run  the small little motherboard, the processor, and  

the RAM and everything you need to do everything  you'd want to do. But when you get into gaming,  

that onboard video chip just isn't fast enough.  So, you'd want to add a like an Nvidia RTX 3000  

series graphics card. But what you'll find is this  computer does not have, first, it doesn't have the  

room to even fit it on the inside, and second, the  power supply isn't enough to power that card. So,  

as long as you're not trying to game  and do first-person shooter games where  

you have to, you know, performance is  key, this would be an overall great  

system. This is similar to what most of  my customers have in their office, and  

they tend to last a good six to eight or more  years. And because there's a lot of memory, an  

adequate hard disk space, and a fast processor,  they continue to keep up over the years.

So anyway, that is my summary on how to buy  a PC at the different office stores. There  

is a little snippet I'll tell you about Mac.  So, the same things apply when you buy a Mac.  

This, for example, is the iMac desktop.  So, you can just pull up their page on it,  

review the prices, find a good starting point.  Like, let's say we want this middle one here. So,  

Apple has their new M1 chip, as you can see,  and that chip actually is pretty darn fast. You  

won't be disappointed with it. So, in a way, that  takes all the guessing game about which processor  

to choose away. So, we'll select this middle  one here, and then you'll just want to look  

at the upgrades. So, again, first upgrade is  memory. Eight gigabytes is good, but if you  

really want to have this machine last a  long time and be fast in the future when the  

internet and Windows get even more bloated than  it already is now, you can do the upgrades. So,  

for example, to double the memory, to make this  one 16 gigs, add 200. That would be well worth it.

And then storage, I would not touch it  with 256 gigs. I'd do at least a 512  

SSD, solid-state, or a one terabyte. As you  can see, the price shoots up really high,  

but this is something that you cannot  change later. So, if you buy a Mac,  

you want the fast, nice, big one right  when you buy it. Otherwise, you're stuck,  

and you'll wish you had done that. So, in this  case, I'd probably say the 512 gigs if you didn't  

have tremendous storage needs. And then all  the rest of the things are just accessories.  

And also, when you buy a PC laptop, the same  three things apply: the processor, the memory,  

and the hard drive type and speed. So, those  are the three variables that always make the  

difference. Most of the other parts and pieces  in the computer are standard. Like laptops always  

have a webcam these days, and you know, most  of the features they have are pretty standard.  

Desktops, there's not much really to worry about  other than the processor, RAM, and storage.

So, hopefully, this will help  you guys know how to better  

pick out and find a great deal on a really fast  desktop or laptop computer. And you can use  

cpubenchmark.net to compare processors to really  understand if you buy the one on the right,  

you're significantly faster than paying the  same amount and buying the one on the left. So,  

if you found this video useful, please like the  video and subscribe to my channel. I appreciate  

hearing any comments or questions you might have  so feel free to leave them. I plan on making more  

videos in the future. Thank you so much for  watching and have a great day. Take care! :)