Has your work computer seen better days? Is it ready to kick the bucket? If your computer is no longer able to handle the job it was meant for, it’s probably time to bite the bullet and upgrade to a new PC.
There are so many options to choose from when purchasing a new computer that it is easy to get overwhelmed. In this article, we are going to highlight a few of the most important things to consider when looking for a new computer.
What to Consider When Replacing a Computer
6 Questions You Should Ask Before You Buy
1. What will your computer be used for?
Always ask this question before buying a new PC. Make sure to include any potential new activities that you might wish to do, as well as any old ones.
In today’s world, tasks and responsibilities in the workplace shift to meet the demands of the team, so what you might be doing right now, may shift a year from now. It is best to plan ahead and go with a machine that can handle more—not less—than what you currently have. The cost savings is just not worth the inconvenience of trying to work with an underpowered system.
2. How much storage are you going to need?
Over the past few years, storage capacity has increased greatly. Nowadays, you can store large amounts of data at relatively low costs. Factory-made PCs typically come with terabyte-sized hard drives, often more than enough for most people.
Transfer rates on hard drives are often the speed stumbling block on PC performance. A solid-state hard drive is a solution to slow transfer rates. Solid-state drives use flash memory to store data rather than moving metal platters, providing significantly better performance than traditional drives.
3. How much RAM does the computer have?
Memory plays a very important role in the performance of your computer, including how many applications you can run at once and how fast each one performs.
When you are looking at the memory of your new PC, there are a few things you should consider:
⦁ RAM size determines how many open applications you can have at once
⦁ RAM speed determines how quickly an open application loads
So, if you know you normally have a lot of programs open and running during the workday, it is best to go with a computer that carries more RAM than less.
4. Do you need a lot of processing power?
Generally, processors are the most difficult thing to compare and are the main driver of your PC’s overall performance. There are many factors to consider when choosing a processor, from the speed of the processor to how many cores it has. It will be mostly the applications you’re running that will determine the performance of your processor, such as whether or not the program was designed to take advantage of multiple cores.
A typical i3 or i5 is more than adequate for standard office work and general workstation use. It is definitely worth your investment to upgrade your processor to a higher-end i7 or maybe even a Xeon if you are doing complex calculations, such as design work or editing photos and videos.
5. Is a dedicated graphics card necessary?
Typically, graphics cards are only useful for multimedia-based tasks such as video editing or 3D modeling, so if the PC is used exclusively for office applications, one is not necessary, so save your money and go for a more modest model.
6. Do you need to be mobile?
For the modern hard-working professional, being connected and in the loop wherever work takes you is vital to success. If you foresee yourself going from the boardroom to Bali in less than 24 hours, a desktop PC is not going to cut it.
A portable PC option like a laptop needs to stand up to long trips on the road or in the air, and perhaps a tumble or two from a café table—because life happens.
When looking for a quality laptop, you should choose one with multiple useful ports, like HDMI, Ethernet, USB, and even perhaps a slot for an SD card if you can. The charging cable should be durable and long enough to allow you to sit comfortably near an outlet. And speaking of charging, find a quality battery option that will give your PC enough power to last all day.
Choosing the Right Brand
Many of our customers have trouble choosing between the brands available on the market. If your last PC brand let you down, it can be tempting to start over and try another.
One of the reasons why we are a proud reseller of Lenovo brand laptops and workstations is because they deliver an incredible amount of value to our customers. The Thinkpad series has been a staple in many offices for years, and there is a reason for that, Lenovo products are built to last. Lenovo systems are rigorously tested for reliability. Many of our laptops are designed to withstand extreme conditions with dust and vibration, heat, cold, altitude, water, and humidity.
No matter where you work, whether you’re the owner of a small business or in charge of the IT department of a huge enterprise, you can rely on Lenovo PCs for reliability, ease of use, and productivity.
Island Key Computer Makes It Easy to Find the Perfect PC
Island Key Computer has a team of certified, in-house professionals and consultants in each of our locations that specialize in hardware service and repair. By partnering with market leaders, we provide products and services that are not only smart but also affordable. You can count on us to help you find a reliable, PC set-up that will help your business thrive.
For more information on our services and IT solutions for your business, get in touch with our experts today.
Has your work computer seen better days? Is it ready to kick the bucket? If your computer is no longer able to handle the job it was meant for, it’s probably time to bite the bullet and upgrade to a new PC.
There are so many options to choose from when purchasing a new computer that it is easy to get overwhelmed. In this article, we are going to highlight a few of the most important things to consider when looking for a new computer.