Purchasing a PC is always a tough decision.

It has become tougher now with the vast variety of options present in the market. Read on to simplify the entire process of getting the best deal for your hard-earned money!

What is the purpose of the machine?

The first question to ask yourself is the purpose of the PC you are going to purchase.

Do you want to simply run MS Office for basic data entry work?

Do you want to run resource intensive programs like DTP or development software? Do you want a PC for your home for activities like browsing, watching movies, listening to music and occasionally working with heavy applications?

Do you want to run it as a SERVER for ERA or Tally?

It is very, very important to have the use of the machine clearly defined in your mind.

What is the importance of the CPU, RAM, Motherboard and SMPS when buying a new PC?
Let us explore the importance of the above components in detail. When purchasing your new computer, your computer purchase will get divided into 4 parts 1. 2. 3. 4. CPU (Processor) + Motherboard + RAM Hard Disk SMPS (Power Supply Unit) Keyboard+ Mouse +Monitor + Cabinet + UPS + Printer/Scanner

The Processor is the most important part of your decision. The RAM and Motherboard depend on the Processor that you choose. E.g. A motherboard that supports Intel processors is different from a motherboard that supports AMD processors. RAM depends on the processor and motherboard that you choose.

A Hard disk is independent of all other parts of the computer.

SMPS (Power Supply Unit) is the most neglected part of the computer and the most important. All hardware components inside the computer are very sensitive and simple voltage fluctuations can kill your RAM or Hard disk. A good quality SMPS keeps the components safe!

The rest of H/W components can be purchased according to your specific requirements.

Common Queries
AMD vs. Intel
Intel and AMD are the 2 major players in the market who manufacture processors. As we discussed above, that the processor is the most important part of the computer, this decision is very important. Most people still trust Intel since it is a known brand and Intel invests heavily in advertisement. However, AMD is as much a capable brand as is Intel at a somewhat lower price. You can go with either platform. The only thing to keep in mind is that motherboards for Intel and AMD are different. An AMD build will generally be cheaper for you to assemble.
For general purpose use, Intel and AMD provide the same performance. AMD computer setups are cheaper as compared to Intel for the same performance. You can get a quad-core AMD processor for the price in which you will get a dual-core Intel processor. Always look out for the processor with the latest architecture so that you can your PC will not get outdated soon!

Motherboards
Even more confusing than deciding the processor is the decision to purchase the motherboard. With so many different types of motherboards and confusing names, we generally leave this decision to the shopkeeper. However, there are few things that you can check before agreeing to buy a specific motherboard 1. No. of RAM slots This tells you the amount of RAM that you can use in your computer. It may be that today you only want 2GB of RAM and decide to upgrade to 6GB after some months. However, if your motherboard does not support more than 4GB RAM or does not have more than 2 slots, then you will not be able to upgrade. 2. No. of USB ports Always make sure that your motherboard has 2 front facing USB ports and at least 4 USB ports at the back. This is generally the case in all motherboards today but might not be in some older models. 3. No. of PCI slots These slots are used for adding extra peripherals like LAN cards, Audio cards. There should be at least 2 PCI slots. 4. SATA ports Hard Disks come in 2 variants i. SATA Hard Disks ii. PATA Hard Disks SATA hard disks are better because they have high read/write speeds

It is always better to finalize the processor first and then look for a compatible motherboard. For a particular processor, you will have only a few choices with regards to the motherboard. Then, you can see the points discussed earlier and get the motherboard with the features that you require!

RAM
The more RAM, the better! Adding more RAM is the simplest way to increase the performance of your computer. Generally 2GB is more than enough if you have Windows XP and 4GB is recommended if you have Windows Vista/7. RAM can be categorized according to 2 aspects: DDR 1/2/3 The RAM can be DDR 1, DDR 2 or DDR 3. The version of the DDR RAM depends on the processor that you use. The newest processors like Intel Core i3 can only use DDR 3 RAM and the older processors like Pentium 4 only recognize DDR 1 RAM. Clock speed The clock speed of the RAM shows you how fast the RAM is. This is again dependent on the DDR version. For e.g. DDR3 RAM comes in varieties of 1333MHz and 1600MHz whereas DDR 2 RAM came in varieties of 533MHz and 800MHz.

Clock speed does not make much of a performance difference if we are using the computer for performing routine tasks.
Whenever upgrading your RAM, please ensure that it is compatible with your processor and your motherboard. RAM prices have fallen by around 50% recently and you can purchase a single 4GB DDR3 stick for around Rs. 1800!

SMPS (Power Supply Unit)

An SMPS is the most important and often the most neglected part of the computer purchase. With frequent power cuts and varying voltages, SMPS is the component that provides a clean power stream and protects your sensitive computer components from damage. Though we get a bundled power supply with most cabinets, it is better to go in for a branded power supply separately for extra peace of mind. This is especially true if you have extra power-hungry components installed in your computer like dedicated graphic cards, multiple hard disks etc. Generally people are misled by the wattage of the SMPS. A power supply rated at 450W does not provide the computer with 450W at different temperatures and loads. The efficiency of a SMPS is given by the Efficiency Level Certification. Lets say an SMPS has an 80 PLUS Bronze certification. This means that the particular SMPS provides more than 80% efficiency at 20%, 50% and 100% of the loads. It is always better to opt for SMPSs which have been certified. To check whether your SMPS is certified, you can visit http://www.plugloadsolutions.com/80PlusPowerSupplies.aspx
Branded good quality SMPSs start from Rs 1500 onwards. If you have purchased a dedicated graphics card, your bundled SMPS will not be able to take the load of the computer. Depending on the power requirements of your computer setup, you will have to purchase a SMPS which provides the required power. Better to be safe than sorry!

Monitors
CRT monitors have become obsolete now and the market is filled with affordable LCD monitors. There are basically 2 types of LCD monitors available in the market Widescreen o Widescreen monitors are generally built for home users who use their PC for entertainment purposes and for professionals who work on software like Adobe Photoshop where extra screen size is a plus. o These monitors have an aspect ratio of 16:9 and 16:10. This simply denotes the width: height ratio of the pixels on the screen. An e.g. of this is the resolution 1366x768 which means 1366 pixels wide and 768 pixels high. Square o These are generally built for office work where screen real estate is not really needed. o These monitors have an aspect ratio of 4:3. An e.g. of this is the resolution 1024x768.

Choose the monitor according to your needs. Prices of monitors start from Rs 5000 and you can easily get a huge 22 monitor for less than Rs 9000!

External USB Hard Drives

There is always a possibility that your internal hard disk may get corrupted resulting in data loss. It is better to have a backup of your important data stored on an external media. One of the best options to store it in an external USB hard drive. External hard drives come in 2 categories 2.5 enclosure (without external power cable) Small in size Easy to carry No external Power Adapter More Expensive

3.5 enclosure (with external power cable) Larger Size Bulky External Power Adapter Cheaper

Buying a cheaper (but bulkier with a power cord) 3.5 external hard disk is only better when you are not planning to move the external hard much. If you want real portability, then it is better to go in for a 2.5 external hard disk even though it will be a little expensive. 2.5 external hard disks start from around Rs 2000 and are really handy to move data from one place to another!

Printer and Scanners

Instead of buying a separate printer, scanner and fax, it is always better to go in for an AIO (All-In-One). A typical AIO has the following features inbuilt Print Scan Copy

These AIOs are suitable for all kinds of users; right from home users to small businesses. Depending on the cost of the AIO, you might get additional features like direct connectivity with your digital cameras so that you can print photos without transferring them to the computer.

Typically, the AIOs targeted towards home users contain a desktop inkjet printer. If you buy a higherpriced model, you can get a laser printer too. The higher-priced models also feature networking capability; wired (LAN) or wireless (Wi-Fi). The AIOs targeted towards small businesses are also known as MFD (Multi-Function-Device). Along with the features given above, they may also contain additional feature of Fax. Some of the higher-priced models also give features like double-sided printing, stapling etc.
If you have a wireless router or a LAN setup, it is always better to pick up a networking printer so you can share the printer easily with all the computers on the network. Prices for All-in-one printers start from Rs. 3000 and will come in handy when you have to take out a copy of a document or a printout at the last minute!

UPS
UPS, which stands for Uninterrupted Power Supply, is the most important component outside your cabinet. We constantly face power cuts and irregular voltages. Your computer is constantly writing data to the hard disk and if there is a power failure at that particular moment, you can lose the entire data or even worse; your hard disk may get corrupted. That is why it is very important to have a UPS which can give you at least 10-15 minutes backup so that you can save your work and switch off your computer properly. It is necessary to choose your UPS according to the amount of power your computer uses. The VA rating on a UPS gives you an indication of the backup time that UPS can provide. If you choose a UPS that is underpowered, you will not be able to shut down your computer in time. Generally for home users, a UPS rated 500-750 VA provides around 10-15 minutes of backup per PC. Now, how do you make sure that the UPS you purchase will provide sufficient backup time for your PC? In general, a normal PC without a dedicated graphics card consumes around 100-130W under heavy usage. A 17 LCD monitor consumes around 20W. This gives us a max total of around 150W. As we saw above, a UPS is measured by its VA rating. The industry standard is Power in wattage = 60% of VA Thus, a UPS with a 650VA rating can provide backup to a computer consuming 390W; which is more than sufficient for the computer we used in the example above.

Generally, a UPS with 650VA rating, which is sufficient for powering your computer+ monitor+ small inkjet printer costs around Rs. 1600. You may have to go with a higher rated UPS (like 1kVA) if you have a dedicated graphics card installed in your PC. If you want to buy a UPS for a small LAN setup with around 10 computers, you can go in for a 5kVA UPS for the entire infrastructure!

Different computer configurations

Low-end General Purpose Machine - Budget Rs 13,000-15,000

Components Processor Motherboard RAM HDD Monitor SMPS Keyboard + Mouse DVD drive

Description Single Core processor like AMD Sempron 140(2.7Ghz, 1 core)/ Intel Atom (1.8 GHz) Basic Compatible AMD/ Intel board with onboard VGA 2GB 1333MHz DDRIII RAM 500GB SATA 15.6 widescreen LCD monitor 450W Optical Mouse+ KB combo 22X SATA Dual-layer DVD Writer

This kind of a configuration is suitable if you want a PC for internet browsing or working on Microsoft Office. It is not suitable for working with heavy applications or work that requires lots of multitasking.

Medium performance Machine - Budget Rs. 18,000-23,000

Components Processor Motherboard RAM HDD Monitor SMPS Keyboard + Mouse DVD drive

Description Dual core processor like AMD Athlon II x2 250 or the newly launched Intel Pentium Dual Core G620/ Core i3 2100 Compatible board with onboard VGA 2GB DDRIII 1333MHz 500GB SATA 20 widescreen LCD monitor 450W Optical Mouse+ KB combo 22X SATA Dual-layer DVD Writer

The above configuration is suitable if you sometimes use applications which do a lot of multitasking but generally use the machine for basic work like browsing the web or using Microsoft Office etc.

High Performance machine (Server) - Budget Rs. 23,000-30,000

Components Processor Motherboard RAM HDD Monitor SMPS Keyboard + Mouse DVD drive

Description Quad core processor like the Intel Core i5-2400 or the AMD A8-3850 Compatible board with onboard VGA 4GB DDRIII 1333MHz/1600MHz 500 GB/ 1 TB SATA 20 widescreen LCD monitor 450W Optical Mouse+ KB combo 22X SATA Dual-layer DVD Writer

This configuration makes sense if you are going to use your computer as a server machine and going to do heavy multitasking on the server.

Misc. Notes
Is a 3GHz processor is better than 2.5GHz processor?

Not necessarily!! There are a lot of different factors deciding the strength of the processor.
The architecture of the processor will determine the faster processor, not the GHz. Just as an example: A 2.6 GHz Core 2 Duo processor is much faster than a 3GHz Pentium 4 processor and a 2.5GHz Core i3 processor is faster than a 2.6 GHz Core 2 Duo processor. A quad core processor will be better than dual core processors.

* Just for reference

Please dont buy the processor based only on the GHz that processor has.

Should we install 64-bit Windows if we have 4GB or more than 4GB of RAM?

Definitely!! If you have 4GB RAM or more, it will not be recognized if you have installed a 32bit version of the operating system. 32-bit version of Windows only recognizes around 3GB of RAM even if you have installed 8GB. Thus, you will not be able to utilize the entire RAM that is installed in the computer!

Does a 64-bit Windows installation not support 32-bit applications?

Not necessarily!! Unless mentioned otherwise, Windows 7 64-bit version supports almost
all applications running on Windows 7 32-bit without any problems. Windows 64 bit has a mode called WOW (Windows-on-Windows) which allows it to emulate a 32 bit operating mode and hence most applications dont face any issues.

Which companies are better for purchasing my computer components?

One important criterion that should be kept in mind when purchasing any component for your computer is the A.S.S (After Sales Support) that the companies provide. Sometimes, a companys hardware component may be a bit costlier than others but provide you with

excellent support when there is some problem with the component. Given below is a list of some recommended manufacturers who provide good warranty support along with excellent build quality of products : Component Type RAM CPU Motherboard Hard disk SMPS External USB drive UPS Speakers Company Name(s) Corsair, Transcend, Kingston, GSkill Intel, AMD Intel, MSI, Gigabyte, ASUS Seagate, Western Digital FSP, Seasonic, Corsair, Cooler Master, VIP Seagate, Western Digital APC Altec Lansing, Creative, Intex

Note: The above list is simply indicative based on experience since after-sales-support is dependent on a lot of factors.