š„ļø Expert Advice: Buying a new computer | How to buy a computer | PC Shopping Guide š”
Summary
TLDRIn 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
- š” When purchasing a new computer, look for sales and discounts at office supply stores like Best Buy.
- š§ Prioritize the processor (CPU) as it's the 'brain' of the computer; a faster CPU equates to a faster overall system.
- š¾ Aim for a minimum of 8GB of RAM for most uses, but 16GB is preferable for more demanding tasks like video editing or gaming.
- š Opt for a solid-state drive (SSD) over traditional hard drives for significantly faster performance and quicker boot times.
- š Check for 'in-stock' or 'in-store pickup' options to find popular, current models that are likely to perform well.
- š Filter search results by Intel processors for a straightforward choice between i3, i5, and i7 chips, which correspond to increasing power.
- š» Consider the total storage capacity; while SSDs are fast, they often come in smaller sizes, so balance speed with storage needs.
- š° Look for deals that offer high-performance components at a discount, such as a computer with an i7 processor and an SSD on sale.
- š§ Use websites like cpubenchmark.net to compare processor speeds and ensure you're getting the best performance for your budget.
- š„ļø 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
š» 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.
š 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.
š 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.
š 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
š”Processor or CPU
š”Memory
š”Hard Drive Type and Size
š”Solid State Drive (SSD)
š”In Stock for Delivery/In Store for Pickup
š”Intel Processors
š”Price Filtering
š”Benchmarking
š”Gaming Computers
š”Mac Computers
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.Ā professional since 1992 and a lot of times myĀ Ā
customers ask me what they should buy when lookingĀ for a new computer, so I thought I'd make thisĀ Ā
video to make it easy and clear to understand.Ā So what I've learned is that most of the officeĀ Ā
stores, including Best Buy tend to have a machineĀ that's on sale at a great price. You might getĀ Ā
$200 off for no reason other than it's the saleĀ of the week! So why not search around and find theĀ Ā
best deal we can get. The three really importantĀ things when picking out a computer are first,Ā Ā
the processor or CPU, that's basically the brainĀ of the computer and does all the calculations.Ā Ā
So the faster that is, the faster the overallĀ computer will be. Second will be how much memoryĀ Ā
the computer has, and in most cases you want 8 orĀ 16 gigabytes to have a machine that's up to spec.Ā Ā
And then third would be the hard drive type andĀ size. These days there is a new drive called aĀ Ā
solid state drive and it has no moving parts andĀ is hugely faster than those old mechanical drivesĀ Ā
that we had years ago. With solid state discsĀ you no longer have to wait many minutes for yourĀ Ā
computer to boot up before you can use it, so ifĀ you buy a new computer, you MUST get one of those.Ā Ā
Not that you have to, but you'll regret it ifĀ you don't. So in shopping for a new computer,Ā Ā
I have up here different websites such as OfficeĀ Depot, Best Buy, Staples. So let's take OfficeĀ Ā
Depot for example. On their website we would goĀ to products, computers, and let's say we're inĀ Ā
the market for a desktop computer. I'll go aheadĀ and click on desktop computers and let's say I'veĀ Ā
already got a monitor and everything I need exceptĀ for the tower. So let's search for a new towerĀ Ā
and a lot come up, 722 results, which is way tooĀ many so we want to narrow it down mainly by "InĀ Ā
stock for delivery" or "In store for pickup". So IĀ see right here in store for pickup means you couldĀ Ā
literally go to the store and see what it is.Ā And those tend to be the more popular, current,Ā Ā
better selling models because it's good enoughĀ for them to keep it on their shelf it must beĀ Ā
a good machine and not yesterday's old news. SoĀ it looks like we've got 13 results. So what IĀ Ā
also look for, I don't have anything against AMDĀ processors but I find the Intel processors areĀ Ā
just more straightforward on what you get. It'sĀ either the i3, i5 or i7 chip and the higher theĀ Ā
number you go the more powerful the processor andĀ more capable it is. It has more cores and a bunchĀ Ā
of other things that make it faster so i'm goingĀ to only check Intel because AMD's product line isĀ Ā
a little more confusing to navigate & know whatĀ you're buying. So now we have sorted it down toĀ Ā
11 computers. We'll choose price, low to highĀ and then I usually just skim the list lookingĀ Ā
at the price. Of course we don't want to go overĀ our comfortable level that we're going to payĀ Ā
and we also want to see what the most computer weĀ could get for the money is and possibly identifyĀ Ā
a super sale that lets us get an extra $200 worthĀ of computer without having to pay the extra $200.Ā Ā
So looking at this list here, I'm just goingĀ to get a feel for the high end and the low end.Ā Ā
So on the high end, the better higher processorĀ is the i7. So I see that a really good setupĀ Ā
would be this right here Lenovo Idea Center. It'sĀ i7 which is great. That's the higher one there'sĀ Ā
actually an i9 but most of the time you won't findĀ that out there and don't need it unless you'reĀ Ā
a real power user. This one has 16 gigabytes ofĀ memory which is really good. Normally 8 gigabyteĀ Ā
is standard and it's all you need but if you needĀ extra power or you're doing intensive applicationsĀ Ā
like desktop publishing, Photoshop, Premiere Pro,Ā you're gonna want more memory. So having more is aĀ Ā
benefit to you, so this machine does have the 16Ā gigabytes of memory. And then the really importantĀ Ā
third thing is the hard drive. So the solidĀ state drives are really fast and it's almostĀ Ā
a "must have" these days but they tend to comeĀ out in much smaller sizes than the old mechanicalĀ Ā
drives. So this one for example has a 512 gigabyteĀ solid state disc, which is half of a terabyte,Ā Ā
which if you're just a light user don't store tonsĀ and tons of photos and videos on your computer,Ā Ā
512 gigs is okay. It's usually the one you'llĀ find commonly on the higher end in the stores.Ā Ā
I do prefer the 1 terabyte but that can addĀ a lot more cost and it's harder to find. SoĀ Ā
this would be an overall good system. AsĀ you can see, it's normally $949 and change,Ā Ā
on sale for no reason today $200 off for $750Ā so that would be one worth considering. NowĀ Ā
let's say that that's over your price rangeĀ and you don't want to spend quite that much.Ā Ā
You can go up the list since we're sorted by priceĀ and then I'm just going to eyeball the processorĀ Ā
and the RAM and the type of hard disk. So firstĀ off, something that disqualifies a computerĀ Ā
is if the hard drive is too small, like a 128Ā gigabyte solid state disk. You don't want it.Ā Ā
That's barely enough to load windows and a fewĀ updates. 256 is kind of pushing it if you're notĀ Ā
storing much at all and not saving tons of photos.Ā It might be okay for a while but better yetĀ Ā
is 512 gigabytes. So looking at our list here IĀ see we have i5. Don't buy a Pentium, don't buy aĀ Ā
Celeron. Those are very low powered chips thatĀ you do not want. The i7 is great, the i5 is aĀ Ā
midline good chip and sometimes even the i3s inĀ the 10th or 11th generation, they became veryĀ Ā
very fast over the years so you're not missing outĀ too much even if you get an i3. So the game is youĀ Ā
just buy the fastest, highest one you can findĀ that has the specs that you want. So let's seeĀ Ā
if there's any bigger hard drives on there. So, IĀ see that it's 256. Okay, one terabyte. We'd wantĀ Ā
to make sure that is an SSD (solid-state disk).Ā One terabyte, so those are worth looking at. So,Ā Ā
let's say we have an i5, one terabyte, andĀ they might even have a way to filter it out.
Okay, so what this means: this computerĀ has a one terabyte mechanical drive,Ā Ā
but the boot drive that Windows is loaded on isĀ in addition to the one terabyte. It's a 256 gigĀ Ā
solid-state drive, so it'll boot up real fast.Ā Windows is on that C drive; that will be 256 gigs,Ā Ā
and then there's another hard drive justĀ sitting in the system that uses the older,Ā Ā
slower technology. But if you're just throwingĀ your pictures and files on it, that's not aĀ Ā
problem. So, this computer might be okay to getĀ like that. So, we'd have an i5, plenty of speed,Ā Ā
we've got the eight gigs of memory, which isĀ pretty good, the price is right, and you'veĀ Ā
got a total of one and a quarter terabyte of spaceĀ with the fast boot drive. So, this is actually aĀ Ā
pretty good deal, and as you can see, $700 retailĀ price marked down to $549.99. That might just beĀ Ā
the game they play, but hey, why not save someĀ money and get more computer while we're at it?
The next thing you can do is once you'veĀ identified a good computer and a good model,Ā Ā
you can go to competitive stores and do the sameĀ thing. So, to see what they offer, on Best Buy,Ā Ā
you would click on the search, click on computers,Ā tablets, computers, laptops, and desktops,Ā Ā
and all-in-one because remember we're targetingĀ a desktop computer, and a package will include aĀ Ā
monitor and everything. Most of the time, peopleĀ are just looking for the computers themselves. So,Ā Ā
I'll say all desktops, and then we want toĀ narrow it down a little bit because thereĀ Ā
are so many of them. I would just likeĀ to see the ones that are popular and theĀ Ā
ones that really do sell. So, let's justĀ say, pick up today. What's in the store?Ā Ā
This will be an all-in-one, meaning the monitorĀ and computer and all the components are integratedĀ Ā
into the monitor. I think those are neat, but ifĀ the screen breaks, the whole computer is shot. So,Ā Ā
I tend to stay away from them. WeĀ want to sort this list by low to high,Ā Ā
and then scroll down. Usually, under $500 isĀ not going to have anything too desirable. See,Ā Ā
we got the i3, the lower processor. Let's seeĀ if we can sort by the manufacturer here. We go,Ā Ā
Intel. I just do like the IntelĀ computers, and I'll scroll down.
It looks like they have a big gap in their prices.Ā It goes from an open box, that means it's not new.Ā Ā
We only want new, so we'll click that checkboxĀ there. So, we have a jump up to $512, andĀ Ā
I'm not much on the Acer desktops, so I'm goingĀ to skip that one. This is an all-in-one. Okay,Ā Ā
now we're shooting up over to $779. So, let'sĀ see what that is. That might be a really goodĀ Ā
computer and a really good buy. Actually, I didĀ sell this computer the other day and set it upĀ Ā
for a customer, and it worked really well. So,Ā this is the Intel i5 chip, 12 gigs of memory. So,Ā Ā
that's more than eight, so that's a plus.Ā And then it says it has a one terabyte SSD.Ā Ā
So, that is actually a rare sight for aĀ manufacturer to have a PC under a thousandĀ Ā
dollars that has a one terabyte SSD. I don't knowĀ why they charge so much because those chips areĀ Ā
really not that expensive, but they tend to costĀ a lot when you buy it pre-configured. So, thisĀ Ā
would overall be a really good system, with greatĀ specifications. You know, again, the main things:Ā Ā
the processor is great, the memory is good,Ā the hard drive is SSD, and it's very fast andĀ Ā
large. So, I like this computer. My customerĀ was happy when I sold it to them. So, again,Ā Ā
the same thing with Staples. You just go throughĀ the methodology to identify, search for computers,Ā Ā
narrow it down to those three things, and seeĀ what shows up. You might find one that you like.
So, going back to Best Buy, there's a moreĀ advanced trick. I've pretty much told you all youĀ Ā
need to know for the most part when choosing theĀ processor. There's a lot of them out there, butĀ Ā
we're in the 10th and 11th generation or versionĀ of them over the many years. They've had differentĀ Ā
redesigns that make the chip faster and faster.Ā So, almost anyone you pick now is a very, veryĀ Ā
fast computer compared to even like two or threeĀ years ago. But if we want to know for certain thatĀ Ā
one machine is faster than another computer, weĀ can really geek out and put the processor intoĀ Ā
a website called cpubenchmark.net, and it'll giveĀ you a performance speed for each computer, kind ofĀ Ā
like a speedometer when you want to compareĀ how fast is this one, how fast is that one.
So, what we would do on this HP Envy desktop isĀ scroll down and try to determine exactly whichĀ Ā
processor it is. So, sometimes they'reĀ elusive with it, and they'll just say i5.Ā Ā
But what you really need is this i5 and thenĀ the number, the i5 dash and the numbers. So,Ā Ā
that's a 10th generation. It's got the 10,000.Ā We're going to copy that and then go over to Pass.Ā Ā
Go to cpubenchmark.net, scroll down, and youĀ can do a search for your model. Now, this pageĀ Ā
is very large. It has thousands of chips listed,Ā and we'll go ahead and paste into the box there,Ā Ā
click find CPU, and then we've got a number.Ā The one that exactly matches is this top one,Ā Ā
Intel Core i5 10400 at 2.90 gigahertz,Ā and the performance speed using theirĀ Ā
system for comparing them is 12,399, or weĀ could just say around 12,000 as a speed.
So, it's often helpful to click on compare, andĀ then this little guy shows that we have that inĀ Ā
our list. Let's say we're comparing that toĀ another computer, and we want to see whichĀ Ā
one's better. So, let's go back over to OfficeĀ Depot. We'll scroll down, and they had a computerĀ Ā
right here, this Lenovo Idea Idea Center. So,Ā we'll pull that up and see exactly which chipĀ Ā
that is. Now, it is i7, so I'd expect it toĀ be faster than the other one, but it may notĀ Ā
be that much faster. So, we're going to lookĀ in here and try to identify the exact chipĀ Ā
that is in this computer. Sometimes you actuallyĀ have to go to the web and search in Google. ButĀ Ā
again, here it is, i7 10700. So, we'll copy that,Ā go back to our benchmark site. You can literallyĀ Ā
just go back to the main page, CPU benchmarks toĀ get back where we were and search for a model,Ā Ā
put in the name of this computer, click findĀ CPU, and then find the exact matching one.
Okay, so this one has a speed rating ofĀ 17,253, which is a lot higher. Remember,Ā Ā
the other one was like 12,300. If you want toĀ see them side by side, you can click compare,Ā Ā
and that makes our little comparison scale hereĀ have two items in it. And you'll click on that.Ā Ā
So here's a side by side. So, we have the i5Ā on the left, i7 on the right. We'll see thatĀ Ā
we would get performance specifications ofĀ 12,399 speed out of the i5 and 17,253 speedĀ Ā
out of the i7. And if you think of it like a carĀ speedometer, a higher number is going faster. So,Ā Ā
this computer on the right, the i7, wouldĀ be the better one to buy because for this,Ā Ā
I think it was the same price.Ā You're getting a lot more power.
And so then again, you can go back and reviewĀ the pros and cons of this. So, we are gettingĀ Ā
a faster processor, the most amount of RAM thatĀ usually you'll find. We are getting less hard diskĀ Ā
space. So, remember, this is a solid-state drive,Ā which is very good, but it's half the size of theĀ Ā
other one. So, as long as you're not storing tonsĀ of videos and pictures, this would actually be aĀ Ā
great buy and a very fast computer. So, theseĀ pre-built boxes are often great for home use,Ā Ā
for business use, everything except for gaming.Ā The reason I say that is the RAM and the processorĀ Ā
are awesome. They're really fast, up to speed andĀ everything. But because these are mass-producedĀ Ā
boxes that sell at a lower price in a retailĀ store, they're not really designed to be a gameĀ Ā
machine monster itself. You have to buy a realĀ true game computer to get that kind of level.
The reason being is that these computers haveĀ a power supply that, say, it might only be 250Ā Ā
watts or 210 watts, which is just enough to runĀ the small little motherboard, the processor, andĀ Ā
the RAM and everything you need to do everythingĀ you'd want to do. But when you get into gaming,Ā Ā
that onboard video chip just isn't fast enough.Ā So, you'd want to add a like an Nvidia RTX 3000Ā Ā
series graphics card. But what you'll find is thisĀ computer does not have, first, it doesn't have theĀ Ā
room to even fit it on the inside, and second, theĀ power supply isn't enough to power that card. So,Ā Ā
as long as you're not trying to gameĀ and do first-person shooter games whereĀ Ā
you have to, you know, performance isĀ key, this would be an overall greatĀ Ā
system. This is similar to what most ofĀ my customers have in their office, andĀ Ā
they tend to last a good six to eight or moreĀ years. And because there's a lot of memory, anĀ Ā
adequate hard disk space, and a fast processor,Ā they continue to keep up over the years.
So anyway, that is my summary on how to buyĀ a PC at the different office stores. ThereĀ Ā
is a little snippet I'll tell you about Mac.Ā So, the same things apply when you buy a Mac.Ā Ā
This, for example, is the iMac desktop.Ā So, you can just pull up their page on it,Ā Ā
review the prices, find a good starting point.Ā Like, let's say we want this middle one here. So,Ā Ā
Apple has their new M1 chip, as you can see,Ā and that chip actually is pretty darn fast. YouĀ Ā
won't be disappointed with it. So, in a way, thatĀ takes all the guessing game about which processorĀ Ā
to choose away. So, we'll select this middleĀ one here, and then you'll just want to lookĀ Ā
at the upgrades. So, again, first upgrade isĀ memory. Eight gigabytes is good, but if youĀ Ā
really want to have this machine last aĀ long time and be fast in the future when theĀ Ā
internet and Windows get even more bloated thanĀ it already is now, you can do the upgrades. So,Ā Ā
for example, to double the memory, to make thisĀ one 16 gigs, add 200. That would be well worth it.
And then storage, I would not touch itĀ with 256 gigs. I'd do at least a 512Ā Ā
SSD, solid-state, or a one terabyte. As youĀ can see, the price shoots up really high,Ā Ā
but this is something that you cannotĀ change later. So, if you buy a Mac,Ā Ā
you want the fast, nice, big one rightĀ when you buy it. Otherwise, you're stuck,Ā Ā
and you'll wish you had done that. So, in thisĀ case, I'd probably say the 512 gigs if you didn'tĀ Ā
have tremendous storage needs. And then allĀ the rest of the things are just accessories.Ā Ā
And also, when you buy a PC laptop, the sameĀ three things apply: the processor, the memory,Ā Ā
and the hard drive type and speed. So, thoseĀ are the three variables that always make theĀ Ā
difference. Most of the other parts and piecesĀ in the computer are standard. Like laptops alwaysĀ Ā
have a webcam these days, and you know, mostĀ of the features they have are pretty standard.Ā Ā
Desktops, there's not much really to worry aboutĀ other than the processor, RAM, and storage.
So, hopefully, this will helpĀ you guys know how to betterĀ Ā
pick out and find a great deal on a really fastĀ desktop or laptop computer. And you can useĀ Ā
cpubenchmark.net to compare processors to reallyĀ understand if you buy the one on the right,Ā Ā
you're significantly faster than paying theĀ same amount and buying the one on the left. So,Ā Ā
if you found this video useful, please like theĀ video and subscribe to my channel. I appreciateĀ Ā
hearing any comments or questions you might haveĀ so feel free to leave them. I plan on making moreĀ Ā
videos in the future. Thank you so much forĀ watching and have a great day. Take care! :)
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