Essay on what to look for in a computer

When purchasing a PC, there are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration. With the technology advancing on a constant basis, it can be very difficult to keep track of just what is necessary for you. It is important to know in advance just what exactly you want to use your computer for. For example, if you only intend on using it for simple things, such as typing stuff up, then having a top of the line computer isn't all that important. However if you intend to use it for things like playing games or editing videos, then a top of the line PC is more or less essential.
The first thing you need to consider is the processor. The processor is what is responsible for the computer's calculations, and seeing as all data is broken down into binary, having a good processor to deal with all those numbers is essential. With a processor, the most important thing to look at are the cores. Multiple cores are better than one, as having just one working by itself, runs the risk of it getting extremely hot and causing the computer to break down. With multiple cores, the workload is spread out, meaning that it is less likely to overheat. It is adviseable to check who manufactured the processor as well. Intel, for example would be a very trustworthy brand. Finally, you should check how many bits are in the processor. 64 Bits is a good amount to have.
Next, you should find out how much RAM (random access memory), the computer has. Ideally, the more, the better, though one gigabyte (the current minimum) should be enough for the average user. Just to be safe, an amount of three or four gigabytes might be a good idea, though any more than that probably isn't necessary.
An essential part of pretty much any computer is how good of a hard drive it has. The more information you plan on storing on your computer, the bigger a hard drive, you will need. Nowadays there are Terabyte hard drives, which means that, unless you plan on saving your entire movie collection onto your computer, you'll have a difficult time, using up all available space.
As already mentioned, if you intend on using your computer for gaming, a top of the line computer is necessary. An essential component of a top of the line computer is a good graphics card. The graphics card is what displays everything on your computer's screen. The better the card, the better the quality of the images you see.
Perhaps most importantly of all though, protection for your computer is an essential consideration. With all the virusus going around these days, good anti-virus software is an essential purchase. Norton is an example of such software. It might also be a good idea to get an extended warranty due to how fragile technology can be. Hopefully this essay has given a brief but detailed insight into some important things to consider when buying a PC.