Buying a system unit for a PC is a very responsible task. Because its choice depends on how efficiently and how long your computer will serve you. The system unit is equipped with many components the characteristics of which should be carefully studied in order to make the right choice.
The purpose of this article is to help the buyer navigate the types of computer assemblies and the characteristics of components. Knowing this information it will be easier to choose a PC option for certain tasks. (working with documents watching movies, playing games etc.).
The main criterion when choosing a system unit is the compliance of the device with the tasks. Depending on the purpose there are three types of PC.
Gaming PCs
When choosing a system unit for a gaming computer it should be borne in mind that the gaming industry. Developing at a rapid pace therefore in order to enjoy a comfortable game. It is necessary to select components that meet the latest system requirements. Modern gaming computer configurations cost a lot but at the same time they will provide the most realistic picture. Eliminate system braking and frame tearing. In addition, a gaming PC can easily cope with tasks such as video editing working with graphic editors etc.
Multimedia PCs
Such computers belong to the middle price segment. They will provide comfortable listening to music and watching videos. as well as using any Internet resources. You can also play some low-demand games on this PC.
In order for the PC to optimally meet your requirements, consider the following.
Fans of VR technology should make sure that the video card supports the appropriate devices.
For a PC to play multi-channel audio it must be equipped with a built-in audio interface. In extreme cases good sound can be provided by an audio chip. Built into the motherboard that supports a 5.1 or 7.1 speaker system, this will be quite enough for a home party. Check here for more details about mini desktop pc.
PC for office school or work at home
An assembly that has a low cost but at the same time is able to effectively solve such tasks as. Working with text editors, bookkeeping and business management, using e-mail and other Internet resources. Supports such a PC and IP-telephony, and Skype. With it, you can watch videos or chat on social networks and even play the simplest games.
Criteria for choosing a system unit
Motherboard
The most important parameters when choosing a motherboard are:
The number of slots for connecting RAM. There should be at least 2 of them, since higher performance can be achieved by dividing the RAM into two bars (for example, 2 bars of 4 GB each, instead of one for 8 GB). In addition, an additional slot is useful in case of upgrading the PC configuration.
Overclocking support (important for gaming PCs equipped with an appropriate processor).
As for the design of the board, equipping it with backlighting and other bells and whistles, everyone decides for himself the need for them individually, you should only take into account that all these additions affect the cost of the board itself and the system unit as a whole.
Processor
The choice of processor must be made according to the purpose of the computer:
For an office PC, a quad-core processor is enough. A more simplified version is a dual-core processor with 4 or more threads. It can be used if you do not intend to work in Photoshop and other demanding programs. The generation of the processor is also important. For example, an 8th generation Intel i 3 quad-core processor will provide the same performance as the i5 of the Kaby Lake family.
Almost any 4-core processor is suitable for the system unit of a home multimedia PC, it is only desirable that there be a sufficiently high clock frequency.
Higher demands on the processor of a gaming PC, as modern games require quite a lot of power. For gaming computers, it is better to install a processor with 6 or even 8 cores, which will provide a reserve of power for new games. Very handy here will be a central processor with an unlocked multiplier, i.e. for overclocking, which provides a significant increase in performance (For AMD processors, the presence of overclocking is indicated by the letter “X”, in Intel processors – by the letter “K”).
Modern AMD processors (RYZEN 5 or 7) or 8th generation Intel Core i5, i7 provide excellent performance even at factory settings.
Video card
If the system unit is equipped for an office PC, then there is no need to install a discrete video card. It will be quite enough integrated into the processor. This option can also satisfy the assembly of a multimedia configuration. But if you still choose a discrete graphics editor, you will get the opportunity to use glasses or a virtual reality helmet, although this will have to overpay a little. In this case, you need to check if the VR technology is supported by the device.
The best option for gaming computers is the Geforce GTX video card (from the 1060 generation), which, at an affordable price, is ready to solve serious problems, especially if it is designed for 6 GB of memory. Among the cheaper options, you can choose the Radeon rx570 (4 GB).
RAM
The most important characteristic of RAM is its size:
For an office computer, RAM with a capacity of 4–8 GB is sufficient;
For multimedia, at least 8 GB of RAM is recommended, in extreme cases, you can install a 4 GB card with the prospect of adding in the future;
in gaming PCs, 8 GB is the minimum allowable amount, but it is better to immediately install 16 GB of RAM, which will provide the maximum amount of the game.
The frequency of RAM for office and multimedia PCs does not really matter, but in gaming computers, the frequency affects performance, and its value should be at least 2666 MHz.