Computer and UPgrades

If you are buying a new PC, there are many things which need to considered. In this century when technology is very fast and changing at every instant, it is very difficult to choose the best thing. So we will help select the best according to your range and demand. When buying a new PC, there are following points which need to be kept in mind:-

- The first and the far most important point is that what is you budget?
- After considering your budget then the second step is that what u need? It should be like that are you going for a laptop or a PC?
-What is the configuration in your mind? What games or software you want to run on your machine?
-Setup your hardware according the software you want to run in the future?
- If your budget allows you then use the best Quality hardware like of INTEL, as far as motherboard is considered.

Know below are certain things which are worth reading.
Get What You Need

Today, almost any PC on the market can more than adequately handle such standard office chores as word processing and spreadsheets, as well as basic Internet functions like e-mail and general browsing. So for $1000 or less, you can get a PC that will suit most people's needs.

If you want to edit digital video or manage a large database, however, you may need more than the basics. Typically, you won't have to spend more than $1500 or $2000 for a system that will suit you today and serve you well for the next few years.

The best way to pay only for what you need is to carefully consider what you want to do with your system now, and try to anticipate what might interest you next year. Specific applications call for certain types of hardware, whether at home or in the office.

When you're ready to buy a desktop PC, get what you need. Here are some recommendations for the average user's minimum requirements. You may want to print out this article and keep it with when you shop.

A 2.66-GHz Pentium 4 or Athlon XP 2800 Processor. For everyday work, word processing, spreadsheets, and e-mail, you don't need the latest, greatest, and most expensive processor. When current processors of the same clock speed were compared in PC World tests, processors from Advanced Micro Devices performed some tasks faster than Intel's offerings.

At Least 256MB of Memory. Anything less will slow your work, especially if you plan to use Windows XP. Buy as much as you can afford, up to 512MB.

The Right Windows. Most home and office PC users should find Windows XP Home a perfectly acceptable operating system. You should drop the extra $100 for Windows XP Professional only if you want to take advantage of management features such as Remote Desktop, which lets users control the computer remotely over the Internet.

Be Careful With Integrated AGP Graphics. Before you buy a computer with integrated graphics, ask if it has an AGP slot. If it doesn't, you won't be able to upgrade your graphics chip.

Sub woofers Improve Sound. Adding a sound system with a sub woofer (a large speaker that produces very low bass tones) can dramatically improve the sound quality of a home system, even if the speaker set is inexpensive. In the office, however, a booming sub woofer may trigger an uprising among your coworkers.

A Big Monitor. Unless you're really pinching pennies, consider a large monitor. A 19-inch CRT monitor lets you see your documents with greater definition (or at a higher resolution) than 17-inch or smaller displays. Better yet, get yourself a new 17-inch LCD monitor. It takes up less space on your desk; it's easier on your eyes; and it only costs about $150 more than a 19-inch CRT. And LCD prices keep falling, so watch for bargains. See "How to Buy a Monitor" for more specifics.

A CD-RW or Recordable DVD Drive. Now that most PC manufacturers have dumped the 1.44MB floppy disk drive, a recordable DVD or CD-RW drive is essential for data storage and transfer. Both allow you to back up important documents (700MB on a CD, 4.7GB on a DVD), share files with colleagues, and create custom audio or video CD's or DVDs. If you need to back up massive amounts of data or entire hard drives, choose the DVD option.

A 60GB or Larger Hard Drive. A 20GB hard drive is fine for simple word processing or Web browsing tasks, but you'll likely fill that hard drive pretty quickly. In the long run it's best to buy more storage space than you think you'll need. Today's largest hard drives reach 300GB. Unless you're planning to use your PC as a mini server for your office database or for electronic entertainment, a drive with less capacity than that may be more cost effective.

Connectivity Up Front. Many PCs now offer a pair of USB ports on the front bezel, so you can connect multiple peripherals without having to reach behind the case. If you have lots of gear to plug into the PC, look for systems with up-front Fire Wire (IEEE 1394) or USB 2.0 ports, or optical audio connectors, depending on your needs.

Graphics Cards for Novice Gamers. If you want to do some gaming, and you're keeping an eye on the future, get a lower-level GeForce4 MX board with 64MB of RAM--but read the fine print to make sure it will support next-generation Direct X games. See "How to Buy a Graphics Board" for details on specific cards.
Other Shopping Tips

PC shoppers can save money and avoid unnecessary hassle by following these tips:

Don't Buy Extra Software. Purchase an operating system, an office suite, and an antivirus package. If you really you need more, look for vendors' software bundles.

Don't Wait for Price Reductions. If you need a new PC now, don't wait a few months to see whether prices will drop further and upper-end performance will improve. Decide when you need the system, and go for it.

Look for Above-Average Specs. If longevity is a priority (and if you can afford it), get something close to, but below, the current top of the line. This will extend the useful life of your PC.

Check an LCD Monitor's Interface. Depending on the brand or model of LCD monitor, it could have one of several different interface connectors--the part that plugs into the PC. Before you buy a monitor, make sure it works with the system you want, or at least that you have a money-back guarantee.

Upgrade at the Time of Purchase. Often, you can get a better deal on a larger hard drive or a better monitor when you first order your computer. Doubling the size of a hard drive may add very little to the cost, and upgrading to a better monitor may add only $80 to $100.

Avoid Gimmicky Keyboards. Many vendors tout fancy keyboards with extra buttons for launching apps. Save some money by choosing the cheapest option unless you have a specific need for a fancier model.

Don't Overpay on Your Warranty. Because most PC problems tend to crop up in the first year, a one-year warranty should be fine.

Buy From a Trustworthy Source. Above all, reduce your chances of getting a lemon: Buy from a PC maker you trust. Check out PC World's annual Reliability & Service survey, in which readers report on which PC makers provide the best (and worst) technical support and warranty service.

Upgrade or Buy A New PC?

If you have the uneasy feeling that your PC is as obsolete as a worn-out automobile with 200,000 miles on the odometer, it might be time for a new machine or a few well-chosen upgrades. Here's how to decide.

Personal computer technology keeps speeding forward at a breakneck pace. Depending on how quickly a manufacturer rolls out new machines, it's only a slight exaggeration to say that the PC you purchased last month is already obsolete. If you bought late in a given cycle, chances are good that a newer (and maybe even less expensive) model has already replaced it. If you're one of those folks who always buys the latest and greatest, well, more power to you. Most of us, however, live in a world of limited budgets.

If your PC is getting long in the tooth, you have several options. You can, for example, upgrade your current system by adding new components or replacing some of its existing ones. Or you can just buy a new machine.

But before you decide what to do, it's a smart idea to do a bit of soul-searching and take a hard look at why you're unhappy with your existing PC. Is it too slow? Does it have reliability problems? Do you want to play the latest PC games, work with images from your digital camera, or edit video from your camcorder? Those are good reasons to consider an upgrade or new PC purchase.

However, you might also want to consider the possibility that your existing PC does meet your needs. Despite the seductive call of new, ultra-fast PCs stuffed with the latest features and tons of storage space, the bottom line is that many of us just don't need that much PC power. If most of your time is spent sending e-mail, surfing the Web, doing household bookkeeping, or even writing the next great American novel, you really don't need the blistering speed and bells and whistles of the latest models.

On the other hand, a few judiciously selected upgrades could help you ease into more-sophisticated computing without busting your budget. And although the computer companies won't like to hear this, upgrades can allow you to put off purchasing a new system for months, perhaps even years.
How Old Is Too Old?

Before we look at the types of PC upgrades you might consider, it's important to talk about which computers are worth upgrading. The best measure is the age of your PC. If your computer is less than two years old, it's a good candidate for upgrades. If your PC is much older than that, there's really no point in trying to upgrade it. PCs that are three, four, or more years old are simply unable to take advantage of the newest components such as hard drives or graphics cards.

In some cases, specific upgrades--such as processors (see Choosing the Upgrade Path)--aren't available for older PCs; in others they'll work, but at slower speeds. For example, while you can install one of the newest mega-space hard drives in your old PC, it won't work at maximum speed. Some older PCs also require special upgrade components--such as memory chips--that are difficult to find or so expensive that upgrades just aren't economical.
When to Buy New

Aside from the age of the PC, there's no hard and fast rule for when upgrades just aren't worth it. But if you decide to upgrade most of your PC's components with higher-end options, the price can quickly approach the cost of a brand new PC. In that case, you should opt for a new computer, which will give you a system where everything is designed to work together using the latest technology.

In addition, some applications require superfast systems. That's particularly true for editing video from camcorders or playing the latest eye-popping computer games. These require very fast processors, oodles of RAM, and big high-performance hard drives. Admittedly, you can get by with an upgraded system, but you'll have to live with compromises. You can, for example, edit video on an older, upgraded system, but you'll spend time twiddling your thumbs while the system catches up with you. And you won't be able to use some of the more advanced video effects that would be a piece of cake for a brand new system.

If you do opt for getting a new PC, you'll need to decide what to do with your old system. Forget trading it in; older PCs have virtually no resale value. But options are available; see "Hardware Tips: What Should You Do With Your Old Computer?"
Moving Data to Your New PC

If you do opt for buying a new PC, you've probably wondered, "How do I move my stuff from my old PC to my new one?" It's a major consideration, but there are answers. If your new PC comes with Microsoft Windows XP already installed, as it probably does, XP includes a "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" that will help you copy essential data from your old PC. (On your XP system, click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then choose Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.) If you don't have a home network, you'll need a special cable (about $20) to connect your old and new computers.

However, one thing the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard doesn't do is transfer your applications to your new computer. You'll need to reinstall them. To do the whole job, you can use a program like Eisenworld's $30 PC Re-locator, which transfers all your applications in addition to your files and settings.

- BEST GAMING PC.
Video/Audio:

A few months ago NVIDIA dropped a couple of bomb shells on us, the GTX 480 and 470. However, do to some minor issues the 480 was updated and sent out with a new name the GTX 580 which is by far their best card. This card is one of the most powerful on the market, giving the owner of one a nice smooth ride in any game they play. CyberPower's Black Pearl gaming PC comes equipped with two of these amazing cards, which is more than enough graphic processing power to run any game at max graphic settings and maintain a high rate of frames per second.

Each card has 1.5GB of GDDR5 video memory, which is more than enough for any game and is only dwarfed by AMD's flagship, the ATI Radeon HD 5970, which has 2GB. The 1.5GB of memory are clocked at 1848 MHz and a core speed of 772 MHz, which is the fastest on the market

Aside from excellent performance, the other great part about the GTX 400 series cards is their inclusion of DirectX 11 which is the newest multimedia and gaming interfaced used to make those games even more realistic. For a while ATI cards were the only contenders in that market but that is no longer the case. DX 11 focused on adding more computing support, as well as the video rendering feature tessellation. These were to really give game developers, and eventually gamers, more realistic and fluid graphics rendering.

Tessellation has been around for a while but has never been implemented much due to the processing power it takes. Since the DX 11 release, though, that is probably about to change. NVIDIA took those same things and integrated them into the FERMI technology that the GTX 400 series has. With this added technology and support we are ready for some seriously intense graphics that will astound us all.

Processor:

Quad-core processors dominate most of the high-end gaming PC market. However, both Intel and AMD have taken the next step and brought out a six-core, 12-thread chip. The CyberPower PC Black Pearl has the Intel Core i7 980 Extreme, which is by far the most powerful CPU on the market. This processor stock is clocked at 3.3 GHz but it comes overclocked to 4 GHz. Normally you would have to worry about heat, but this gaming PC comes with the Asetek 510LC 120mm Liquid Cooling system, which will keep everything at a reasonable temperature.

Memory/Storage:

Another very important feature that every gaming PC needs is a good set of RAM. The CyberPower PC Black Pearl has 6GB of Kingston's HyperX DDR3, which is clocked at 1600 MHz. The motherboard allows for adding another three sticks if you wish and can handle faster clock speeds as well. That is plenty of RAM power and probably isn't the bottleneck on this rig. If there is a bottleneck it probably resides with the hard drive, which is a regular 7200 1TB HDD. Thankfully that is the secondary drive. The primary is an Intel 80GB SSD. As long as you are using it and not the secondary, slow speeds are not probable.

Additional Features:

The motherboard housing all these jaw-dropping pieces of technology is the ASUS P6X58D-E Intel X58, which should handle just about anything you can throw at it. The CyberPower PC Black Pearl has two PCI Express x16 slots, both running at x16. There are another two x16 slots running at x8 and then two xl slots. There is also a PCI slot for anyone still using equipment that requires one. With about every SATA connection you can think of you should have no problems with storage interface options. Also there is FireWire and up to 10 USB ports at your disposal.

This gaming PC is running Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit like most other pre-built machines. There are two optical drives, a Blu-ray drive and a DVD /- RW drive. Now between the processor, RAM, graphics cards, optical drives, water cooling and everything else you can imagine how much power this gaming PC must need. Thankfully there is a Corsair 1000-watt power supply to do the job, and it does it well. A power supply with this much wattage should have no problem keeping up to speed with advancing technology.

Support/Warranty:

CyberPower PC offers full information about what is in each of their gaming PCs but like most other companies doesn't go into much detail about the specs of each piece of hardware. This is common and isn't really a problem since most people know what they're looking for when they buy a gaming PC. Although they don't offer those details, they can still easily be found elsewhere.

According to the code of Power PC's warranty, you are covered by a limited three-year labor and one-year parts warranty. Although it's only a guideline and not an actual rule, if any parts are defective, they will show their true colors before that one year mark usually. Three years of labor is nice should you need any servicing. After three years most gamers are looking to upgrade. On the gaming PC website you can find a contact phone number, email address, FAQs, driver downloads and just about anything else you could want for additional help and support.

Summary:

As you can see, the CyberPower PC Black Pearl gaming PC is by no means the "$300 super savings special." Gaming PCs need high-end hardware and unmatched computing speeds and this system gives you all the computing power you could ever want in a gaming computer. With it you can set sail on the vast ocean of great games, then pillage and plunder to your heart's desire. With all the great games coming out and DirectX 11 implementation creeping into the works, all gamers can use a powerhouse like this computer to help them in their epic gaming adventures.