COLUMN: It’s what’s inside that counts
So you’re fed up with using that old computer mom and dad tossed you when they sent you off to college? All of your friends are running Windows XP and bragging about their frame rate in Unreal Tournament 2003. What can you do to put out the flames of your burning frame rate envy?
How about run down and pick up one of those “fast” PC’s advertised in town for 500 bucks? WRONG!
If you’re a die-hard game player, or simply want a stable long haul PC, be very wary of the deal that’s “too good to be true.” Don’t be taken in by the advertised gigahertz hype currently being pushed by Intel. There’s a lot more to a fast PC than the high clock speed of the processor. This is the main reason those cheapo PC’s are so inexpensive. It all boils down to hardware. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that one PC is the same as the next, just because they look alike. That’s like buying a pickup truck and not checking to see if it is two- or four-wheel drive. Whatever you do, don’t base your PC decision solely on the gigahertz number in an advertisement.
Think of that high gigahertz number as your PC’s engine. To win races, fancy trophies and the idolatry of screaming fans everywhere, let’s correctly assume that a high performance engine needs to be in a high performance vehicle. Would you a put Corvette LT1 motor (big and fast) into a Ford Festiva? Of course not. Think of the motherboard (what the PC’s processor and other components plug into) in a computer as the vehicle. It should make sense then that it should be on par with your new gigahertz crunching processor. It’s best to do some research before you buy, to make sure you know what you’re getting. Check out the latest mobo (techno slang for motherboard) prices and reviews at sites like www.tomshardware.com. Keep in mind that it is very common for one motherboard to lag severely behind another, even when both are coupled with the same processor. Also be sure to get some high performance RAM (memory) to go along with your mobo and processor.
So now you have your fancy benchmark winning motherboard, CPU and memory selected. What’s next?
If you really want to turn some heads and crunch frame rates, you need a good video card. The video card controls the speed and clarity of what you see on your monitor. Most bargain basement computers have fast processors, but cheap motherboards and video cards (and sometimes the video is built into the motherboard). What this means, is that your roommate’s computer could be hundreds of precious megahertz slower and still outperform your slick new machine.
To avoid the taunting, teasing, and wedgies that could ensue, you’ll want to invest in some serious video horsepower. If you have $300 to spare, the ATI Radeon 9700 Pro delivers the best video performance this side of Pluto. But if buying your processor and motherboard has you swamped for cash, there are many capable alternatives available for the budget-minded consumer. Once again, check out review Web sites like the aforementioned Tomshardware for tech specs, or www.pricewatch.com to get the best price.
If this process seems overwhelming, swing by the Utah State University IT Services Helpdesk (SER, Room 108), during the evening hours of 6 to 8, and ask one of the many capable consultants for advice. You can even purchase the components and have the consultants at the Helpdesk assemble your machine for you (for a minimal fee of course), and even transfer files from your old system to your new one.
So, if you are in the market to upgrade or purchase a new computer system, research every component before you buy. Keep in mind that not every part is created equal. In the end, you will be glad you did. After all, mothers everywhere may have been right when they told us it’s really “what’s inside that counts.”
Eric Umina is a senior majoring in
business information systems. Comments can be sent to the Helpdesk at helpdesk@cc.usu.edu