7 Barebones Computer Buying Tips

Getting a new computer should be a cool thing, especially a cheap computer. After all that time struggling with you old machine, probably fighting with it to get the latest software to run, your new computer should be a ray of light for your computing future.

Oh, if it were that simple. If things were really that easy or simple when buying a cheap computer, life would be much easier, but just like every other thing, its not that simple.

Barebones computers have become extremely popular, and for good reason. Getting a barebones computer which does not include a monitor and comes with the bear minimum of parts makes them an upgradable, practical and cheap computer.

But not all things are rosy in barebones computer land...

1. Missing parts

Although barebones computers do come with the essential pieces, most people need at least one or two extras for their day to day barebones system. This is simply due to different applications people use them for. Don't get caught missing that extra part from your barebones system that you then need to get later. You still need to do some homework and research to find out what you really need from your barebones system.

2. Super cheap computer deals

Beware, many corners can be cut to get those sub $200 dollar barebones systems. They can be great, but not always, carefully analyse the components of the package. Also remember that a barebones system couldn't possibly include a monitor for that price, which adds a lot to the price.

3. Mismatched parts

This could become a problem if building your own computer, but it even happens in pre-assembled barebones computer deals. There is a chance that you get something that doesn't fit with the barebones system. There are lots of different connections and speed ratings between parts. Make sure the ones you get match up to the other parts and your needs. Although not common, incompatibilities between parts are not unheard of.

4. Outdated components

To get super-cheap deals older parts are sometimes used in cheap computers. Although this can be a great cost-saver and some old parts are fantastic, there is nearly no chance of an upgrade without putting a major amount of money into your barebones computer again, perhaps as much if not probably more than you paid for your great deal.

5. Defective parts

Although this is another one that has gotten better as the competition has gotten stronger, there is a chance of defects in cheaper products. Your motherboard could be faulty, your power supply might give up after a month or two. These may not be intentional problems, but come hand in hand with "cheap computer stuff".

6.Refurbished computer parts

Refurbished computer parts are a great way to save some money. Not always the biggest saver, but there can be problems with the updates to these computers in much the way as mismatches happen in barebones systems. Often the computer is slightly updated to meet needs, but is really quite an old model, just with upgrades. Can be fine, but the parts they replace might be replaced with something newer but inferior.

7. Claims of great warranty

To try and entice you into feeling safe, offers of long warranties are made. Most of the parts in the computer could have past their warranty dates, so the warranties are purely from the company that put the computer together. They can be hard to contact and take their time to get replacements to you as well as expect you to mail the computer to them so that they can do the repairs.

Barebones computers can be a great way to put together a second computer, build a computer for simple purposes, like writing documents and casual web surfing. Barebones fit perfectly as a second computer. Just keep these things in mind and you won't get bitten by the bargain bin monster.

Get the most honest and useful reviews to make the right choice at our Desktop Computer Hardware Reviews site or get practical computer buying tips at our Computer Buying Guide site

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Choosing and Buying a New Personal Computer

Buying a new PC can be a daunting task for some people, the average home user will not know what the different options mean and when faced with these decisions might end up making the wrong choice and end up with a computer that won't do everything they need it to do. This guide will help you understand the different options so you can choose the correct PC that meets your needs to ensure you are getting the best value for your hard earned money.

Before you start shopping for a new computer you need to make a few decisions to help you find the right computer suitable for your needs.


Determine if you want a laptop or desktop computer. See Laptops vs Desktops further down for more information.
Create a list all the different things you want to be able to do with your new computer - for example, browsing the internet, sending/receiving emails, word processing and storing photos, videos and music. Without this list you will find it very hard to determine which computer will be suitable for you.
Determine the minimum hardware specifications for your new computer, see Hardware Specifications further down for more information.
Determine how you are going to buy your new computer. See Where To Buy A Personal Computer further down for more information.
Buy your new computer. Keep an eye out for my up coming guide "Setting Up A Personal Computer", which will cover the basics of setting up your computer and maintenance tasks you should do on a regular basis to keep your computer running fast and secure.Laptops vs Desktops

A laptop computer has a major benefit over a desktop computer, portability - you can take your laptop with you almost anywhere meaning you will have instant access to the information stored on your laptop, however this also makes it easier for someone to walk off with your laptop and your information. Desktops are not portable, but are also a lot less likely to be stolen.

A laptop is generally much more expensive than a desktop computer, and, for the same cost of a laptop, a faster desktop could be purchased.

Laptops are generally not upgradeable and are made using proprietary parts, this means that if your laptops breaks only the manufacturer of your laptop can supply parts to fix it - when your warranty runs out this can become very expensive. Desktops are fully upgradeable and do not use proprietary parts, meaning that the replacement parts are normally inexpensive and can be found in practically any computer store.

Hardware Specifications

There are a lot of different options when it comes to the hardware specifications of a computer, once you have made your list of things you want to do with your computer you will be able to determine the minimum hardware specifications of your new computer, normally the best way to do this is to talk to a specialist and give them your list of things you want to do with your computer. The main hardware components you need to look at are the CPU (processor), RAM (memory) and HDD (hard drive).

Processor - Determines how fast your computer can process information.

RAM - This is the temporary space the computer uses when accessing your programs and information stored on your computer. This can be thought of as a desk, the information you are currently working on is put on the desk and is removed when you are finished. The more RAM your computer has, the more information you can access quickly at the same time.

HDD - Determines how much information you can store on your computer.

For basic tasks, such as browsing the internet, sending/receiving emails, word processing and storing photos, videos and music, a computer with at least a dual-core processor, 2GB memory and an 80GB hard drive would be suitable, depending on how many photos, videos and music files you have - the hard drive capacity might need to be increased.

For more advanced tasks such as gaming you will need to look at a fast processor, more memory and a separate graphics card - refer to the minimum specifications for some of the games you would like to play to get an idea on the sort of hardware specifications you will need.

Where to Buy a Personal Computer

There are a few different ways to buy a new computer, below is a list of the most common ways people buy computers.


Buying a computer form an electronics store or department store (such as Dick Smiths or Big W in Australia). This is possibly the most common way the average user will buy a PC and is also the worst way to purchase a computer. These types of stores generally do not have staff with a good knowledge of computers, therefore they cannot really help you make the right choice and cannot offer good after purchase support. Avoid this option where possible.
Buying a brand name computer from a manufacturer over the internet (such as Dell or HP). This is a relatively good option however you cannot look at, apart from pictures, or test drive the computer before buying it. You can normally get good advice when buying online by calling the sales team or searching for reviews on the internet. After market support is reasonably good with this option, they will have a dedicated technical enquiry team and will normally have a local service representative who will normally do house calls.
Buying a custom built computer from a computer store (such as Principal Computers in Australia). This is a good option and will allow you to get great advice and buy a computer that fits your needs. You can sit down with a specialist and discuss exactly what you need your computer to do, it is also generally cheaper than buying a brand name computer and they will provide great after purchase support.
Buying the individual hardware components and building the computer yourself, this is only a good option for those who already have good knowledge of computers. If this option interests you please look out for my up coming guide "Building Your Own Personal Computer".Conclusion

With the right information, choosing and buying a personal computer does not have to be a daunting task. Hopefully this guide will help you in the right direction of choosing a computer that will be suitable for your needs. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions you may have.

Please visit [http://homepcguides.com/] for more articles

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Buying Computer Hardware

There is a continuous debate on the benefits between buying computer components to build your own customized personal computer and choosing a store-built, ready-to-use computer at your local store. Apparently, store-built computers provide you the convenience of selecting the model of the PC that closely measures up to your specification, then you bring it home or to the office and plug it and voila! It's ready for use. Buying computer components on the other hand, gives you the liberty to set up your own PC according to the exact specification using branded parts that are more durable and easier to replace when you want to upgrade your system. However, putting together delicate computer parts is not everyone's cup of tea no matter how simple the instructions may be. Whatever choice you make depends on what suits you best so it is important to have a better understanding of the kind of computer hardware that should be inside your personal computer.

The hardware inside your computer including the box that houses all of these comes from different individual manufacturers, and these parts are assembled together under an operating system which is a software that is usually run by Microsoft. To keep the prices of store-built computers popular, distributors would normally utilize the generic parts that may be of inferior quality, and because they have to cater to a standard market, it is difficult to find a personal computer that is tailor fit unless you result to buying computer components instead.

You purpose of buying a computer may be categorized according to the following needs:

For basic computer tasks - these include doing Microsoft office functions like Word and Excel, internet access for email, getting in touch with friends and family through social media, browsing or research, online shopping, online banking, music downloads, video viewing, etc...

Gaming - from simple card games, simulation games such as flying a plane or driving fast speed cars or motorcycles, platform games like the famous Mario, Action-adventure games that can be categorized as hard core games requiring high resolution videos, etc...

For video-animation work, graphic design, and watching high density movies - to get the best results for these categories, you will need high intensity computer components.

Here is a list of the basic computer hardware to guide you in choosing the kind of personal computer that will best suit your needs:

Random Access Memory or RAM - this allows your computer to read data faster, thus a higher ram accelerates the speed of your computer system the capacity of which is measured in gigabytes. A 2 gigabyte ram or 2GB can already provide a good speed for your computer system.

Hard Disk Drive - this is the hardware that stores the primary information and data. So even if you do basic tasks only, you will still be collecting an assortment of data that you would want to keep and logically, your stored files will continue to increase through time. Choose a hard disk that has at least 160 GB to ensure a large capacity for storage. External hard drives are also available should you need more space for storage of large files including your back-up files. You can ask your computer store about this when buying computer components.

Central Processing Unit - also called as the microprocessor is the brain or your computer where the functions of a program are executed. The CPU triggers your operating system that boots your computer. Most microprocessors are manufactured by Intel and AMD, but Intel continues to be the more popular choice. When buying computer components such as your CPU, you look at the clock speed, the cache memory and the bus speeds. These factors determine respectively how fast your computer will run, how much data can be stored, and the speed your CPU executes in transferring data to and from the other components. For basic computer tasks, an Intel Dual Core is usually recommended.

Mother Board - this is where most of the major components of your computer are embedded such as the microprocessor, memory cards, video card, power supply, drive connectors and other computer components. The type of mother board is essential when buying computer components because you need to choose one that will allow you to upgrade the peripherals installed on it.

Video/Graphic Cards - this computer hardware is very important for gaming and for video and graphic uses because it is the component that processes image data that comes out on your monitor. You can choose from the less expensive 2D graphic images or you can go for the latest output of 3D images. A highly recommended graphic card is the nVidia 1GB graphic card with an Asus motherboard and a hard disk capacity of 500GB which you can specify when buying computer components.

If you want a personal computer that will fit your requirements to a T, it is recommended that you build your own rather than buying a store-built unit. There are computer stores who can do this for you, and who will assist you in buying the computer components of your choice. However, if you are not too particular with the technical aspect of your computer and you would rather choose a store-built unit, just make sure that you purchase a computer that contains hardware that are replaceable and upgradeable.

Article written by Jeffrey Frasco. For more information about Buying Computer Components visit BuyComputerComponents.com.

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