Blog Entry #19

PC Buying Guide

Buying a new PC today can be a daunting experience. However, we've made it simple and easy to understand with breakdowns in cost, performance and recommendations.  Let's first take a look at manufacturers: 

DELL - Trusted, reliable and durable. The workhorse. Dell PC's are known for their reliability and durability. They make desktops and laptops running windows and chromebooks. They used to make laptops running Linux, but im not sure if they still do. They are my favorite choice and will serve you well for years. However, they are really expensive. 

ASUS - One of the OG's of the prebuilt world. They are really good computers, for what they are. Let's be absolutely clear, I would NEVER game on one. However, I have an early Windows XP era Desktop from ASUS that still runs strong. ASUS computers are very well designed and handle abuse well. They are also pricey but you can find good deals on them. 

Intel - Yes, that Intel. The Intel of Intel core i9 also makes laptops. They are decent and do a good job with most tasks and they can do intensive gaming as well. They run hot, but they do an excellent job. They are good in regards to durability and reliability wise, there are better, but there are certainly worse. You can get yourself a decent gaming rig without breaking the bank. 

As far as HP, Lenovo, Acer and their affiliate brands are concerned, avoid them like the plague. Other manufacturers not mentioned aren't the best, but aren't the worst. 

Now, let's look at performance:

Budget/Low end:

These computer are designed to be cheap, and do minimal tasks. They are good for light office work and browsing the web. That's about it. They aren't good for much else. Most Chromebooks fall into this category. 

Mid-Range:

These computers are made for task heavy operations such as graphics design, video editing and sound engineering. However, it's not a gaming machine, although most mid range PC's can do light gaming. Gaming Chromebooks fall into this category. These PC's are well suited for most tasks and will make most people happy. 

Gaming/High End:

These PC's are the best of the best. Here is where you find things like 1TB SSD's, 64 GB+ RAM, dedicated Nvidia or Radeon Graphics cards, and the best of the best of components. Can these computers do office work? Sure, but that's like taking a Lamborghini grocery shopping. It CAN do it, but there are better uses for it's time. These computers are made to do graphic intensive programs and run programs for specialized purposes. In fact, most consoles, such as Xbox or Playstation, can't hold a candle to what a really good gaming PC can do. 

How about price? 

For budget PC's expect to pay anwhere from $150 - $400.
For Mid Range, expect to pay anywhere from $400 - $700.
For High end/gaming, expect to pay anywhere from $800+. 

Recommendations:

Low end: Desktop PC - here  Laptop PC - here

Mid Range: Desktop PC - here  Laptop PC - here

Gaming: Desktop PC - here  Laptop PC - here

Please Note: I am not sponsored by any manufacturer. These are my opinions and my own experiences. There are no guarantees and no warranties. Buy any PC, listed here or not, at your own risk. Your results may vary.