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WHAT  TYPE OF  COMPUTER DO  I NEED, Q & A

Do I need a fast computer these days?
If your basic computer needs are to get on the internet, social media, email, and playing games over the internet, then these days, you don’t require a blazing fast computer. However, if you are a gamer or a video editor, then you may require a more top-of-the-line computer with ultra-fast video response. Although, it is important to keep in mind that most of us only require a fraction of that speed that they require. 

Should I get Windows 10 or Windows 7 on my computer?
These days, windows 10 is one of the only operating systems to consider. Since support for the Windows 7 operating system is unfortunately coming to an end, the manufacturer, Microsoft, will no longer protect you from the bugs after January 20th 2020. And since the attacks on Windows 7 OS’s will never stop because people unwisely use expired operating systems. So, if you are using Windows 7 after the end of support date please beware. Microsoft will no longer provide patches to seal upWindows 7. They have announced that there will be no successor to Windows 10. Microsoft has also stated that Windows 10 will be the last version of windows. So whether we like it or not, it will be what we are using for some time to come.

 
Is there a minimum requirement to running Windows?
Microsoft has historically been poor at judging what hardware can run adequately on their operating systems. They allow even the slowest of computers to now run their latest operating system in order to make money for their licenses. When you have a slow computer running windows10, running it can be an exercise in futility. When hardware is underpowered to run its own operating system, the result can be latency. This means that the computer and the operator must wait to run a command which can end up being quite frustrating.

What is a bottleneck?
A bottleneck is some part of your computer processing power that has slowed down so significantly that it has brought your computer to a near, or total halt. For instance, if you have a low amount of ram in your system, but a fairly fast processor, your machine may slow down or lock up. Your ram will create something called a swap file. This has been part of windows,\ since the Windows 95 inception. It will send information in your ram memory that it doesn’t need right at the moment to the swap file on the hard drive. It will then will move it back to ram memory when it’s needed. This is a complicated operation and will severely slow down system speed. Other bottlenecks can occur when one system or piece of hardware slows down the rest of the machine. To avoid these bottlenecks, ask a reputable computer store about your specific needs so that you can avoid purchasing a computer with obvious signs of a bottleneck waiting to occur.

What are the minimum cpu requirements that would fit my needs? 
If you are thinking of upgrading your laptop or desktop computer, there are some minimum requirements which you should observe to make your computer experience as good as possible. The CPU, or processor, is the main part of your computer; it is the heart of your computer. It does all the complicated math at extreme speeds to allow us to do things like watch cat videos. In terms of minimum processing power, you should get a computer with at least an intel i7 processor. Another option is getting an AMD processor of equal or comparable power. These processors all have multiple cores, which are essentially mini cpus within your processor. The more cores, the faster the processor and the faster the computer will be. Processor speed is no longer a selling point in cpu; it is really all about the number of cores these days.

 
What is the minimum ram that I should look for?
The minimum RAM, or random access memory, that you need to achieve a decent computer experience is around 8 gb. Most modern ram types would be sufficient. Keep in mind that 8 gigabytes is only a minimum ram capacity recommendation. In most cases, doubling that number would provide a better experience. If you like to have multiple programs and/or browser windows open, you may want to consider 10 or 12 gigabytes of RAM memory. It is important to note, however, that motherboards have a finite capacity of how much ram they can take as well as the architecture that ram can be. You can find that information from the motherboard or your computer manufacturer.

  
What about the video card speed?
Video cards that come on the computer are generally sufficient for most basic needs. Even if you later decide later that you require a faster video adapter, in most cases, you can simply upgrade your video card to a higher performance model if you have a desktop computer. In most desktop computer motherboards there is an upgrade slot for video cards so that you can upgrade to something that is better suited to your needs. Unfortunately, if you have a laptop computer or an all-in-one computer your choices are limited to what the computers came with from the manufacturers.

Should I buy new or factory refurbished?
Refurbished desktop or laptop computers can work out fine for many people. In most cases, these computer systems will work just as well as their newer counterparts. Most of them are assessed quite thoroughly. Most have a newly installed operating system ensuring they will work properly for a long time to come. Keep in mind that, in most cases, these refurb machines do not have much of a warrantee. As opposed to new machines which usually carry up to a year of protection covering many problems that may occur. However the cost of purchasing a new computer can be almost double the cost of a used one. It also must be noted that you never know how hard the computer was used in its former life. If you decide to purchase a machine that has been refurbished, please do your homework to assure that you are buying from a reputable dealer. That way, you will be covered if the machine arrives at your doorstep as DOA. 

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Last edited 10-28-19 rl