Q&A for How to Buy a New Computer

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  • Question
    How much does a computer for an average gamer cost?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    In general, the cost of a new computer for an average gamer ranges between $700 to $1,500 depending on the type and specifications of the machine.
  • Question
    Suggest a laptop computer that would be good for office applications, grading papers, browsing the Internet, watching YouTube videos and email. Please suggest the amount of RAM, the speed processor and the size of the hard drive.
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    4GB of RAM is more than enough for office work and browsing the internet, 800GB of storage space (unless you have lots of papers and applications, consider buying an external hard drive), and an Intel Core i5 is fine.
  • Question
    How do I finance my new computer?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Some stores have in-house financing. Check with the store you are purchasing from. If the store does not, you can put it on credit card and pay it off monthly or you can save up and pay it in full.
  • Question
    How do I get a computer with 6 monitors?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    There is no computer sold with 6 monitors. You just have to buy separate monitors and plug them into your computer.
  • Question
    What are the prices for the types of computers?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    A low-demanding computer to do basic tasks will set you back £150-£200. A mid-range computer that can run HD video and light gaming is about £250-£500. A high demanding computer that can run 4K and the latest games at max settings will cost about £500+. Intel and AMD chips are different and can do some things better than the other.
  • Question
    How do I determine the speed of the processor?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    There is no real statistic for measuring the speed of a processor. It can sort of be determined by how many CPU cores it has and by its clock speed. However, higher clock speed or higher core count do not always mean faster performance. It is usually better to search for an online benchmark to compare the processor's performance to other ones.
  • Question
    I run 3 live programs at once (investing and legal classes). The previous hand-built PC cannot handle it, there's not enough "memory." What can I do?
    Joel
    Joel
    Community Answer
    Most current motherboards (which you can fit RAM to) will have multiple slots for RAM (memory). Based on your description, you likely have two or four gigabytes of RAM. Buy another stick of RAM and plug it into your motherboard, or, alternatively, if all the spaces are full, buy a new computer.
  • Question
    How much is a decent computer for a gamer?
    Joel
    Joel
    Community Answer
    You can generally a get a computer that will run most games at high settings for around $800. However, if you want to run games at 4K resolutions or the most current hardware, then you're looking at a bill that could exceed $1500.
  • Question
    Do I need to do a virus check on my new computer?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    When buying a used computer (or hard drive) from an individual, you'll want to do a virus check as a precaution. A new or refurbished computer from a reputable store or dealer should not have viruses. However, you will want to activate virus protection on any computer as soon as you get it. Some computers may be sold with a subscription or trial version of virus protection. If not, protection can be bought as software or downloaded.
  • Question
    Can I use a printer with a laptop?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, assuming that it is a fairly recent printer (last 10-12 years). Most printers are wireless, meaning they connect to the network, and any computer will work, but almost all have an option to use a basic USB cable for printing.
  • Question
    How do I know if a prebuilt computer can run the games I want?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Just check the system requirement of the game and your computer.
  • Question
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
  • Question
    What should I do to properly transfer my files from an old computer to a new one I have recently bought?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Back up a file from your old one and put it on a new one by using cloud storage, or an external hard disk.
  • Question
    When a computer says it comes with ethernet, does that mean that it doesn't have WiFi?
    Joel
    Joel
    Community Answer
    If a computer says it comes with ethernet it generally won't be wireless compatible by default. You'll have to buy a wireless adapter and plug it into the motherboard yourself to make it compatible.
  • Question
    What's a battery backup?
    Mahmud Rahman
    Mahmud Rahman
    Community Answer
    A battery backup is simply a way in which you can connect an external battery power supply to a desktop PC that will allow you to keep using your computer even if electricity is suddenly lost for any number of reasons, such as thunderstorms. They are quite essential incountries where electricity is not always readily available (such as in the global South) and as a result, entire power grids often turn off the supply of electricity from one town and switch it back on in another.
  • Question
    How do I buy a new PC if I live in a remote area?
    Sebastian Onofrei
    Sebastian Onofrei
    Community Answer
    If you have internet access, it's as simple as going to an online retail site, but make sure the site you are buying from can deliver to your area!
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