www.dakla.com - e-mail: kjda72@hotmail.com B.O.Box: 480  Jaddah  21411
www.dakla.com - e-mail: kjda72@hotmail.com B.O.Box: 480  Jaddah  21411
Before You Buy Desktop Computer Systems

Processors (CPUs)

Processor choices are a bit more difficult now then they were before. It is still really a choice between an AMD and an Intel processor. The difference really comes in how many cores there are in the processor and its relative speed. Each company now has a performance rating system that isn't really easy to compare. Due to the complexity, its best to refer to my links below for a more detailed explanation of CPUs for budget and uses.

Memory (RAM)

Most desktop computers now use a type of memory called DDR2. Some high performance ones might use DDR3, but this is quite expensive. Avoid systems using the older DDR memory standard. In terms of amount, it is best to have at least 1GB of memory in the system and preferably 2GB. Memory speeds can impact performance as well. The faster the memory, the better the performance should be. When buying memory, try to buy as few DIMMs as possible to allow for future memory upgrades if needed.

Knowing a CPUs Power When Buying a Desktop PC

The first specification listed for all computer systems on the market tends to be the processor that is running on the computer. Typically it will say the brand, model and speed of the processor in the spec sheet, but the marketing information may only list its speed rating. This can make it very difficult to determine how good a machine is. After all, one processor running at a specific speed may not run as well as a different model from the same manufacturer. That is why I've pieced together this list of categories to let you know how functional each processor is.

Outdated Processors

Processors that fall into this category are generally no longer in production by the manufacturers and are typically sold in either budget systems or older refurbished systems. Machines with these processors will typically take longer to run application and possibly might not even run some of software on the market today.

It is best to try and avoid systems with these processors unless you want to use a computer for the very basic functions such as word processing and general web browsing.
  • AMD Athlon 64 (Non-Dual Core/X2 Models)
  • AMD Athlon 64 X2 (Older Socket A Models/DDR Memory RAM Models)
  • AMD Athlon XP
  • AMD Duron
  • AMD Sempron
  • Intel Celeron
  • Intel Pentium 4
  • Intel Pentium III
  • All VIA Processors