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Laptop computers used to come with a prohibitive price tag compared to the cost of mainstream desktop computers. Over the past few years, however, the desktop's cost advantage has vanished, making a laptop the overwhelming favorite if you have limited desk space or just think you have the slightest chance you might use your computer outside of your home.

At the same time, technological advances have brought about laptops that are smaller, faster, lighter, and easier to use. The only downside to these developments is that now you have a lot of options, and choosing the right laptop is increasingly difficult. Here are the factors that you need to consider:

Basic Components

Hard Drives

Laptop hard drives are smaller and more expensive than their desktop counterparts. While a desktop computer often comes with a hard drive with between 500 gigabytes and 2 terabytes of capacity, most laptops get by with a standard-issue drive with only 100 to 500 gigabytes. That's still enough for thousands of songs and pictures or dozens of movies. Only if you're maintaining a large collection of large, uncompressed media files - if you're a professional photographer, for example - will you find this space inadequate. Most laptop users who need extra memory just pick up a light, portable external hard drive with plenty of capacity.

Further, there's a newer, faster kind of hard drive. The solid state drive (SSD) replaces the spinning disk with memory chips similar to the ones in your camera or USB storage stick. Solid state drives are noticeably faster than traditional hard drives. They can greatly reduce the time it takes to boot up your computer or to open a program. They also consume less power, helping your battery last longer in the short and long run. Finally, with no moving parts, solid state drives are less likely to crash. For all those benefits, however, they cost much more than standard drives of the same capacity. If you can afford a solid state drive, or you can manage to live with a smaller capacity hard drive, you will really be amazed by its performance. If you don't want to shell out the cash right now but change your mind later, you can switch out your hard drive as part of a performance enhancing computer hardware upgrade.

Memory

There is an old saying in the computer industry that you can never be too rich or have too much memory. It's true. When a computer loads a program, it takes the information from the comparatively slow hard drive and temporarily stores it in its much faster Random Access Memory (RAM) drive. Having more RAM will allow you to open up more programs simultaneously without slowing down the computer.

Simply put, more RAM means a faster machine. Most laptops come with a minimum of one gigabyte of RAM. It's worth paying for two or even four gigabytes of RAM if you can afford it. If higher RAM isn't in your current budget, at least make sure that you'll have the ability to upgrade. Not all machines can take an upgrade, and you don't want to get that surprise later on.

Processor Speed

In the old days, you would have judged a computer almost exclusively by the speed of its processor. Today, most new computers feature processors that are more than sufficient for most everyday tasks including the use of office applications and Internet browsing.

If you're going to use your laptop for major gaming, data processing, or video or graphic design, you'll need to take a harder look at processor speed. Laptops marketed as netbooks come with low-voltage processors that will extend your battery life, while traditional laptops will have standard processors. If you are looking for speed, look for the higher speeds in Gigahertz (Ghz) or multi-core options.

Laptop Weight

The entire point of a laptop is portability, so you need to consider the weight. The heaviest component of a laptop is the battery, so you'll of course have to balance your preference for a lightweight computer and a long-lasting battery. Think about whether you are always on the move or just an occasional traveler with a computer. If you simply want a laptop for those rare instances when you go to the coffee shop, or to carry around the house with you, you can probably deal with a slightly heavier option for the sake of longer battery life. If you'll be very mobile, you may want to carry a lighter machine even if you have to plug it in more often.

Other than the battery, other factors that affect weight are screen size and whether or not you'll get an optical drive (e.g. DVD drive). Most commonly, the lightest laptops will be more expensive than heavier ones that have similar specs. The smallest and lightest laptops can weigh less than two and a half pounds, while the largest can weigh seven pounds or more. I find the middle ground, between three and five pounds, to be the sweet spot for people who want to be able to travel comfortably with their laptop.

Display

Screen Size

Think seriously about how much screen size you really need, because a large screen will feel much less portable. The smallest netbooks have screen sizes of eight or nine inches, while laptops built for presentations and large-scale viewing can have screens up to 17 inches. Eight or nine inches will be plenty for surfing and reading emails, but if you're working with larger documents, photos, or movies, you'll need at least 11 inches.

One option is to supplement your laptop's small screen with one or more larger monitors on your desk. This way, you'll get the advantage of portability and maximize your workspace at home. The most important aspect to consider along with screen size is weight, which will increase significantly with screen size.

Screen Resolution

Resolution is the other critical factor determining how much information you will be able to see on your laptop's screen. Selecting a higher resolution will allow you to see more text on your screen but it will be smaller. The limiting factor is the maximum resolution that your laptop's screen can display.

The smallest available resolution is 640×480, which is barely adequate for most tasks. The majority of websites are optimized for a screen at 1024×768. A popular resolution for wide screens is 1280×800, and larger laptops can even feature an incredible 1600×1200.

If you'll be spending a lot of time in front of the computer, a higher resolution may be worth the extra money. It won't be as harsh on your eyes and will make for a much more pleasant viewing experience.

Screen Backlight

An LED screen is a great new feature for your laptop. LED lighting technology offers a better picture, is more durable, and consumes less power. The older, florescent displays usually fail after a few years and cost you a lot to replace, while LED backlights should outlive the rest of your laptop's components. Moreover, less power consumption translates into a longer battery life.

LED screens provide a larger spectrum of colors, and produce a greater degree of detail in dark areas, making images look sharper than fluorescent-lit screens. There used to be a significant difference in price between florescent LCD and LED lit laptops, but the price of LEDs has dropped to the point where LEDs are taking over the market.

Graphics Cards

The graphics card you can expect from most portable computers will have a fraction of the power that a desktop will have. Unless you purchase a laptop for gamers, the video card will likely only be sufficient for using office productivity applications and viewing media files. However, if you are planning on utilizing one or more external monitors, you should ensure that the video system in your laptop is capable of supporting that configuration.

Key Components

Trackpads

Trackpads, which provide the functionality that mice provide for desktops, are made of various materials and have a wide spectrum of capabilities depending on the manufacturer and model. Even if you plan to order online, visit some stores to test out trackpads to make sure the one you get responds to your movements. You'll be stuck with it for a great deal of your computer use, and you need to like the "feel" of that specific trackpad.

Apple laptops, for example, have glass trackpads that allow you to use a long list of "gestures" that virtually replace any need for a mouse. PC laptop trackpads offer adequate capability, while providing a wide range of trackpad materials.

Keyboard

The size of your laptop's keyboard will depend on the screen size you choose. If you seek the portability of a small screen, you probably won't have a full-sized keyboard. Small keyboards are tough to begin with if you have big hands or big fingers, but they'll also be missing some of the shortcut keys you might be used to.

Before you buy a laptop, make sure that the keyboard fits your hands and is easy to use. Additionally, some laptops have traditional, raised keys while others have a keyboard that sits more flush with the laptop. The slight difference can make a big difference in comfort. Some also offer backlit keys to help you in the dark, though that convenience can drain the battery power.

Lastly, the largest laptops now even come with a number pad on the right side, just like a standard keyboard. Keep in mind that if you'd prefer to carry a smaller laptop but work with a bigger keyboard at home, you can attach a full-sized external keyboard.

Battery Life

One of the limiting factors of any laptop is its battery life. You need to consider your lifestyle and decide how important battery life is to you and how much extra you're willing to pay for a computer with a long-lasting battery. Factors that can increase battery life include LED lit screens, solid state drives, and low-power processors. These newer technologies consume less power, which is a far more convenient way to extend battery life than including a larger and heavier battery.

The best laptops will offer a battery life of close to 10 hours. This can enable students to use their laptop throughout the day without ever having to plug it in. A longer battery life can also be very useful to work at coffee shops, or watch movies on long car rides and plane trips. With most laptops, you can also purchase a second battery to extend your computer's battery life.

Connecting and Accessorizing

Wireless Capability

These days, wireless cards aren't really an accessory. Nearly every laptop will come with wireless capability standard. Most come with Bluetooth as well. WiFi will allow you to connect to the Internet, while Bluetooth enables you to use devices like headsets, wireless mice, and telephones, without wires.

You'll likely find that the card in your machine conforms to the 802.11g standard, which should provide all the speed and bandwith you'll need. If you want to invest in cutting-edge technology, the next standard on the way will be 802.11n, but it's not worth spending extra to get this emerging technology at this time.

Camera

As teleconferencing, uploading photos, and recording videos become more popular, more and more laptops come with a small camera above the screen. It's a cheap upgrade, but it's easy to end up with a low-quality camera that won't be of much value to you.

If you plan on frequently using your camera for video, rather than capturing still images, choose a higher resolution. Most laptops with built-in cameras feature 1.3 megapixels of resolution, which is fine for video conferencing. If you want to upgrade, or have more flexibility with the angle of your shot, you can get a high-quality external USB laptop camera.

Ports

Your laptop is meant for portability, and you'll probably want to carry with you plenty of peripherals, like that camera, when you travel. You'll need an adequate number of USB ports, or else you'll need to buy an additional hub. While some laptops come with only two USB ports, if you have a lot of devices to attach, upgrade to four ports.

The current USB standard is 2.0, but 3.0 is quickly becoming more popular. Finding a laptop with USB 3.0 will enable faster communication with external hard drives, cameras, and other devices. Other ports that you may need include Firewire and HDMI, both of which are used to transmit digital video.

Finally, some laptops come with memory card readers that you can use to access the popular formats used by digital cameras.

Docking Stations

One downside to a laptop is that it's very time consuming to detach and re-attach your peripherals every time you want to move the computer. For your power cord, printer, scanner, and all of your other devices, avoid the mess by getting a docking station. You'll be able to attach all of your equipment to a single point of contact with your computer, and simply dock and un-dock your machine with the press of a button. Unfortunately, not all laptops are compatible with a docking station, so if you know you have a lot of peripherals, consider this a deal breaker when you're shopping.

Two Big Debates

Mac vs. PC

On the software front, many people find the Mac operating system much more user-friendly than Windows. Moreover, Mac hardware has proven to be more reliable over the long run than PCs. Apple products, however, are significantly more expensive than their PC counterparts, mainly because the PC market is saturated with numerous competitors vying for the lowest price.

Additionally, Windows users have access to a larger selection of compatible programs since most software is designed first and foremost for Windows. This is true especially when it comes to computer games.

Laptop vs. Netbook

A few years ago, the computer manufacturers had the "bigger is better" mindset. Major companies presumed that all users wanted the largest available screen and every feature they could dream up. Eventually, they learned that some customers wanted a smaller laptop with fewer features at a lower price point. The product they came up with was called the netbook.

The idea was that they would remove the DVD drive, reduce the screen size, and decrease the power consumption. The resulting machine would thus be optimized for portability and long life. They intended to create a computer that you could use for basic light computing tasks and general web surfing.

As more variations on laptops become available, the lines are getting blurry with netbooks vs. laptops. Many manufacturers have even dropped the optical drives in favor of slim, light designs with incredible battery life. At this point, the word "netbook" isn't much more than a marketing term to indicate that a computer is a small, light alternative that doesn't have a DVD drive.

Final Word

Laptops are so much more accessible than they were just a few years ago, and the technology keeps improving while prices fall further. For just a few hundred dollars, you can purchase a small, light, and powerful computer that will give you wireless access to much of the world's knowledge. That is a pretty amazing fact that would have astounded most computer enthusiasts twenty years ago.

And while it's great news for tech enthusiasts and casual users, it's still not a perfect world. You'll have to consider plenty of options in choosing your computer and its various components. If you want to get the most machine for your money, keep these key features in mind.

What other factors have you considered in choosing your laptop computer? What options are most important for your computing needs?

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What to Look for When Buying a Laptop Computer - Specs Explained

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Laptop computers used to come with a prohibitive price tag compared to the cost of mainstream desktop computers. Over the past few years, however, the desktop's cost advantage has vanished, making a laptop the overwhelming favorite if you have limited desk space or just think you have the slightest chance you might use your computer outside of your home.

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Gaming, working, school?
Laptop, Desktop?

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Shopping for a computer? Read about types, features, and other must-know topics in our computer buying guide to make an informed choice.

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by Chris Woodford. Last updated: August 29, 2017.

Buying yourself a new computer can be a daunting prospect. There are literally hundreds of different models to choose from and, what's worse, they all look exactly the same! Compare the specifications and you'll find that looks aren't the only thing they have in common: unless you know your Wi-Fi from your Bluetooth and your Linux from your Windows, you'll be hard-pressed to tell one machine from another. It's hardly surprising that most computer buyers make a few feeble attempts to compare a handful of likely contenders and then just pick something more or less at random based on whichever brand sounds most familiar. But isn't there a more scientific approach to parting with your hard-earned cash? The best thing you can do is make a list of all the features that really matter to you, make a shortlist of half a dozen different machines, and then see which machine ticks the most boxes. But whether you go for the scientific approach or just trust your gut, here are some things to think about before you fill your shopping cart and click "checkout."

Photo: How much computer can you get for your money? Desktop or laptop? Laptops are more convenient than desktops if you don't have a lot of room, and use less energy, but they're easier to damage, harder to upgrade, and cost more to repair.

What will you use it for?

This is absolutely the most important question when it comes to buying a new computer. Most home users do little more than browse the Web, send emails, word-process the occasional letter, download MP3 music tracks, and store and process photographs from a digital camera. For basic Internet (email and Web) work and word processing, all you need is a basic computer-you don't need anything fancy and you certainly don't need to worry about getting the very latest model. Processor speeds and hard drive sizes are virtually irrelevant if you'll do nothing but Web browsing and sending emails; even a 10-year-old secondhand laptop may be good enough (though it will struggle to run the latest Web browsers and it may not have things like USB ports and wireless Net access).

If you'll be using your computer to manage music tracks on an iPod (or other MP3 player), the most important thing you need is plenty of hard disk space-but virtually any new computer will have more than you could possibly need. (As a general rule of thumb, I suggest multiply your iPod's storage capacity by 2-3 and aim for a hard drive that size to ensure you have plenty of room for other things.) When it comes to storing videos and digital photographs, storage is rather more of an issue. But even if you buy a computer with a hard disk that turns out to be too small, you can easily add an external drive at relatively low cost to overcome the problem. Alternatively, you can now buy USB flash memory sticks that have as much memory as an average PC had just a few years ago-and they make great portable backups.

In short, as far as most home users are concerned, virtually any new off-the-shelf computer will be able to handle what you want to do. The only exception is people who like to play games (either alone or online). If you plan to do a lot of that, you'll need a computer with a fast processor-and the processor speed will probably override all other considerations. If you're a games player, always buy the fastest machine (the one with the highest processor speed) you can afford.

Laptop, desktop... phone or tablet?

Photo: Do you even need a computer anymore? Most modern websites-including this one-are specifically designed to show optimized mobile versions on smartphones, like this large-screen, high-definition Android "phablet" (a cross between a phone and a tablet).

Laptop computers have become incredibly popular in the last decade. They're brilliant for moving around the house from room to room (sending emails in bed, working in the garden, or wherever you happen to be), especially now wireless Internet access means you can be online at all times without worrying about cables. But there are two key things to remember before you dismiss a desktop out of hand:

1. Laptops are guaranteed to make themselves obsolete every three or four years. Unlike desktop computers, you can't easily upgrade components when you outgrow them or replace them when they fail. You can add more memory easily enough (though there's usually a limit to how much), but you can't add a bigger screen or a new hard drive without quite a lot of hassle.

2. Laptops are much more flimsy (less robust) than desktop machines-ironic, given how they have to put up with more abuse-and expensive to get repaired. In particular, the keyboards on laptop computers are not designed for industrial-strength daily use. You'll soon wear out a laptop's keyboard if you pound it heavily for 8 hours a day and you'll find the cost of replacing it can be about 20-25 percent the cost of a new machine! If, like me, you spend your entire life typing, and you prefer to use a laptop, the best thing to do is to invest in an external USB keyboard (maybe a wireless one for convenience). Plug it into your laptop and use it every time you do a lot of typing. If you spill coffee on an external keyboard or wear it out, it's a mere $10 for a new one; ruin your laptop's built-in keyboard and you could face a bill of $200 or more. If you find an external keyboard means you have to sit too far from the screen to read it properly, buy yourself a stand for the laptop and put the keyboard just underneath it (or use a couple of telephone directories). If you get a small external keyboard, you might find it will perch snugly on top of your laptop's existing keyboard without causing any problems.

Even if you always use your laptop in the same room in your home (mine is permanently sitting on a desk plugged into a printer, external keyboard, and so on), that doesn't necessarily mean a desktop is a better bet. I often work away from home so it's brilliant to be able to unplug the laptop in a couple of minutes and take it with me; I couldn't do that with a desktop. On the other hand, if you organize your files sensibly, you can probably just copy your entire "My documents" folder onto a USB stick and take that with you, and if you use a web-based email service like Gmail or Yahoo!, you don't need to take your laptop with you at all.

On the positive side, laptops use much less energy than desktops, so switching to a laptop is a sensible decision if you care about the planet. According to the EU's Energy Star energy-efficiency labeling scheme, a laptop uses just 50-80 percent of the energy you'd use with a desktop-savings that will really mount up if you use your machine perhaps 8-10 hours a day, 365 days a year, for several years.

A few years ago, all you had to choose between was a laptop and a desktop. Now there are all kinds of mobile devices too-and fast mobile broadband makes it possible to do things online on a mobile almost as quickly as you can on a desktop. If you do a lot of online reading but not a lot of typing, you might find a tablet serves you better than a laptop-and an ebook reader (such as a Kindle) could be even better, since it's likely to have very long battery life. Conversely, if you like to work in all kinds of places around your home and you do type a lot, a tablet might be too annoying (though you can add separate Bluetooth keyboards to many of them, effectively turning them into laptops). If all you want to do is check your emails on the move, do you even need a tablet? Maybe you'd be better off with a high-spec smartphone-particularly the kind of large-screen phone sometimes referred to as a "phablet" (because it's, in effect, half-phone, half-tablet).

The bottom line is that it pays to give some thought to how, where, and when you'll use a computer before you buy it.

CD or DVD?

Most laptops now come with a multi-function audio CD-player, CD-ROM drive, CD rewriter, DVD, and DVD rewriter-so you don't have to worry too much about this. (You can always add an external USB CD or DVD drive if you need to do.) The appearance of Blu-ray drives adds a new complication, but don't worry about them too much unless you're a games player. Most of us can cope with a standard CD/DVD reader and rewriter, which will come with most new desktops and laptops. Compact discs and DVDs are going to be around for a while yet, even though, for a lot of us, it's all about downloading now.

Widescreen?

One area where laptops, in particular, have changed considerably over the last decade is in the size of their LCD screens and their aspect ratio. Older laptops had much squarer screens; the latest laptops have widescreens so you can watch movies from DVDs. Don't worry too much about screen dimensions unless you plan to watch lots of movies on your computer. But if you're planning to do lots of Web work and you're buying a small computer with a tiny screen, bear in mind that many, wider websites will display with scroll bars (only showing part of the screen at a time)-and that can get a bit irritating after a while.

Photo: My last three (Toshiba Satellite Pro) laptops. The 1996 model on the left has a tiny screen and a really chunky (but amazingly robust) case with built-in power supply. This machine was literally built like a tank! In the middle, we have a low-cost Toshiba from 2004. It has a much bigger screen and a huge touchpad and wrist-wrest. The case is also much thinner, but flimsier too. The 2007 model on the right is clearly designed to double as a DVD player. It has a widescreen display and the keyboard wrist area is much smaller. Note that the photos are not taken to the same scale.

Connectivity?

Computers used to be solitary machines you used in the comfort of your own home without worrying about other people; now, thanks to the Internet, and things like Facebook and Twitter, they're a much more social phenomenon than anyone ever expected: 21st-century home computers are more like super-enhanced versions of 20th-century telephones. That's why most computer users now expect their machines to be online the whole time. If you're buying a laptop, and especially if you're getting an older model secondhand, make sure it has a wireless networking (Wi-Fi) card built in so you can use it all around your home (you will need to buy a separate wireless broadband modem/router or a mobile broadband dongle as well). Some laptops still have built-in dial-up modems, but they're much less useful than they were; it's virtually impossible to use the web without broadband these days because most websites are deliberately designed to make use of faster connections.

Photo: If you buy a secondhand laptop and it doesn't have a built-in Wi-Fi card, you can always buy a PCMCIA adapter card (made by companies such as Netgear and Belkin). It's a bit bigger than a credit card and it just slots into the side of the machine. If you're using Windows, the card should install itself automatically. You can buy these cards amazingly cheaply on auction sites.

Buying secondhand

Ten years ago, the smartest way to buy a laptop was to get a two or three year-old secondhand machine at a fraction of the cost of a new model. Having spent a bit of time looking at prices on eBay, I get a sense that you can currently buy a 2-5 year-old secondhand laptop for about a half to a third the price of a new one. Bear in mind the drawbacks of going the secondhand route: you can spend an inordinate amount of time on auction websites checking out the features of secondhand machines and worrying about whether they're still up-to-date enough for your needs, the reliability of the seller, whether the machine is stolen, and all kinds of other things as well. A few years ago, I would have advised students and people on low budgets definitely to buy secondhand; now, it's harder to see a justification for buying secondhand unless you're really pushed for cash. If you're environmentally minded and interested in recycling, it's relatively easy to find refurbished, ex-corporate machines on eBay; you might not save that much on buying a new model, but you'll have the satisfaction that you've saved one more machine from a landfill in India. Laptops are high on the list of items when it comes to auction fraud, so make sure you buy secondhand machines from reputable sources (ex-demo or reconditioned models are sometimes available from official dealers).

Windows, Mac, or Linux?

Photo: A version of Linux called Ubuntu is the third most popular operating system after Windows and the Mac operating system. Once it's up and running, it looks and works (to an end user) in much the same way as those others. Fixing technical problems is more of a challenge, however.

A few years ago, no one seriously considered buying anything other than a Windows PC. Apple Macintosh machines were the preserve of graphic designers and people in the creative world, but for everyone else there was only one way to go: Microsoft. Following the rise of the Internet (and the iPhone), things have changed considerably: Macintosh computers are now more affordable and more compatible with Windows PCs than they used to be. If all you plan to do is surf the Web and write the occasional letter or essay, it doesn't matter whether you use a Windows PC or a Mac. If you prefer the smart and stylish Steve Jobs vision to the geeky utilitarian approach personified by Bill Gates, you can plump for a Mac with no qualms-or fear.

Over the last few years, the appearance of Linux (a freely available "open-source" operating system that shares advantages of both Windows and Mac) has given computer buyers something extra to think about. The beauty of Linux is that it costs little or nothing so a computer that ships with a Linux operating system can be considerably cheaper than the same model shipping with Windows. That's one reason why netbooks (small-scale laptops like the Asus Eee PC) are sold at such low prices. Although Linux is much more affordable than Windows, you might find problems making peripherals (printers, scanners, webcams, and so on) work correctly, though this is less of a problem than it used to be.

If you're wondering which operating system to use, it might be worth bearing in mind what's running on your smartphone. An Apple desktop computer will be a bit more compatible with an iPhone, for example, and synchronizing your music library is a little bit easier too, because iTunes runs on both platforms. But it's relatively easy to use any kind of desktop with any kind of smartphone. I used to run a Windows desktop and an iPhone, for example; now I have a Linux desktop and an Android phone. You can reasonably expect everything to work with anything-and most of the time, you won't be disappointed.

In summary

Still confused? It's simpler than it looks:

If you're a basic home user and you'll be Web surfing, sending emails, writing letters, and storing photos, almost any off-the-shelf computer will be fine for your needs. Don't worry too much about processor speeds or hard drive space.

If you'll be storing lots of photos or music tracks, make sure you have plenty of hard drive space.

If you're a games player, you'll need a machine with a fast processor.

If your machine will be used all round the home by different members of your family, in different rooms, a laptop with wireless Internet is a good choice.

If you work from home and plan to use a computer all day long, a desktop is a better bet than a laptop-or use a laptop with a plug-in keyboard (and possibly plug-in screen as well).

If your computer hasn't got exactly the features you want, don't worry. Virtually all machines have USB ports (for plugging in extra equipment). Simply buy yourself an external mouse, keyboard, hard drive, webcam (or whatever), and plug it in.

If you're on a tight budget, consider a secondhand or reconditioned machine. Be sure to buy it from a reputable source. Consider whether the money you're saving is really worth the extra worry and hassle.

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by Chris Woodford. Last updated: August 29, 2017. Buying yourself a new computer can be a daunting prospect. There are literally hundreds of different models to choose from and, what's worse, they all look exactly the same!

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Text and video

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Have you ever thought about building your own computer? Actually buying a motherboard and a case along with all the supporting components and assembling the whole thing yourself?

Here are three reasons why you might want to consider taking the plunge:

1. You'll be able to create a custom machine that exactly matches your needs.

2. It will be much easier to upgrade your machine in the future because you'll understand it completely.

3. You may be able to save some money.

And, if you've never done it before, you'll definitely learn a lot about computers.

In this article, we'll take you through the entire process of building a computer. You'll learn how to choose the parts you'll use, how to buy them and how to put them all together. When you're done, you'll have exactly the machine that you need.

The first step in building a computer is deciding what type of machine you want to build. Do you want a really inexpensive computer for the kids to use? A small, quiet machine to use as a media computer in the living room? A high-end gaming computer? Or maybe you need a powerful machine with a lot of disk space for video editing. The possibilities are endless, and the type of machine you want to build will control many of the decisions you make down the line. Therefore, it's important to know exactly what you want the machine to accomplish from the start.

Let's imagine that you want to build a powerful video-editing computer. You want it to have a quad-core CPU, lots of RAM and at least 2 terabytes of disk space. You also want to have FireWire and USB 3.0 ports on the motherboard. Look for a motherboard that supports:

Quad-core CPUs (either Intel or AMD)

At least 8GB of high-speed RAM

Four (or more) SATA hard drives

FireWire connections (possibly in both the front and back of the case)

USB 3.0 ports

Then it all needs to go in a case with enough space to hold multiple hard disks and enough air -flow to keep everything cool.

With any computer you build, knowing the type of machine you want to create can really help with decision-making.

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Have you ever thought about building your own computer? Actually buying a motherboard and a case ­along with all the supporting components and assembling the whole thing yourself? Here are three reasons why you might want to consider taking the plunge: You'll be able to create a custom machine that exactly matches your needs.

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Evertek Computer Corporation - Your best source of discount electronics. - Evertek

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Whatever kind of computer you want to build

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Shop a wide selection of Computer Components at Amazon.com including CPUs, solid-state drives, graphics cards, and more.