Computer Hardware Buying Guide

To upgrade or to start from scratch

If there's a specific piece of your computer system that's holding everything else back, then the simplest and least expensive approach may be to simply upgrade that one component. Knowing which piece this is, however, is no small task. Sometimes it's easy enough -- if you're out of storage space, you probably need another hard drive; if your monitor is too small, you can buy a bigger one. However, there are other components in your computer that work in tandem, and knowing exactly which piece contains the bottleneck generally requires some insight into the inner workings of the applications you're running. For this reason, it can often be useful to upgrade the motherboard, processor, memory and video card at the same time -- sometimes, even if you know which piece is the bottleneck, an upgrade may not show its full value until your replace some or all of the other pieces.

So what are these pieces?

The motherboard

The motherboard is the most central component of any computer system. In short, it's the piece that everything else connects through. Every motherboard has:

A slot for a processor
Several slots for memory -- commonly four or six slots
A slot for the video card, which can be one of a few different types
Slots for other expansion cards -- again, any number of them, but between two and five is fairly common
Interfaces to connect to hard drives, CD/DVD drives and other drives
A place for the power supply to connect to the motherboard
A handful of small connectors to connect to the case

Of course, depending on the motherboard, there may be more!

So do you have to worry about what to connect to all of these different interfaces and slots? If you're building a system from scratch, then yes. If you're simply upgrading an individual component, there's a good chance you'll be replacing something that connects to the motherboard, in which case, all you have to worry about is if the piece will work with your motherboard. For example, if the card you want to install needs a PCI slot, then your motherboard needs to have a PCI slot available. Or if you want to install two video cards using SLI, you need to make sure your motherboard has two PCI-Express slots and that it supports SLI. Answering these questions often means doing some research at the manufacturer's Website. However, there are many reputable Websites that test and compare various components -- if they've tested a particular piece with a particular motherboard, you'll have a good source of information about how well those pieces work together.

The processor

The processor is the piece that does most of the thinking for the computer. (Of course, depending on how you use your computer, your video card may do just as much!) Some people get the mistaken impression that the processor single-handedly dictates the performance of your computer, regardless of the task. Those same people might upgrade to a processor that's reportedly 20 percent faster, and then they are surprised when their computer isn't performing everything (or, sometimes, anything) 20 percent faster. Don't be one of those people! The processor works in tandem with other components to determine the performance of your computer. While you will likely see some performance improvements by upgrading to a faster processor, it's also likely that a new processor's potential won't be fully realized without a new motherboard to put it to work or perhaps without upgrades to other components (namely the memory or video card) that might be holding back your current processor.

Any motherboard will be limited in which processors it supports, and most motherboard manufacturers will keep a list of exactly which processors the motherboard supports. Typically, this means finding the motherboard's manual on the manufacturer's Website, although some motherboard vendors also keep easy-to-find lists of supported processors on their Website.

When it comes to selecting a processor for performance, your best bet is to find performance reviews that test with the same applications that you use (or, at least, similar applications) and pick a processor based on their results.

Like the rest of the computer components, your selection in processor may be a trade-off between the performance you're looking for and how much you're willing to pay. People building a system from scratch will often start by selecting the processor they want and that they're willing to pay for, then pick a motherboard that supports it and choose the other components from there.

Finally, don't forget the heat sink! Most modern processors require a heat sink and fan to keep them from overheating and being destroyed. If you buy a processor in retail packaging (as opposed to OEM packaging), it will probably include a heat sink and fan. There are also a variety of after-market heat sinks and other cooling systems, which are very popular with performance enthusiasts. Check out Overstock.com's selection of case accessories for the heat sink and cooling fan your system needs.

The memory

Memory, also called RAM (Random Access Memory), is one of the more elusive components to define. Memory provides the "working space" for your applications; if you have too little, it's like having a desk that's too small for what you need to do -- you may constantly have to shift things around to make room for the next step of what you're working on; if you have too much, then you paid for memory (which can be quite expensive) that's not being put to use.

Without a fair amount of knowledge about the inner workings of computers and the applications you use, it can be difficult to tell if you have enough memory, not enough or more than you need. Again, performance reviews that test with the applications you use can help you find the optimal amount of memory for your system. Of course, if money is no object, then you can always put in all the memory your motherboard can support and have few worries about it not being enough.

There is no shortage of acronyms and obscure terms you will see when shopping for memory. Bigger numbers are typically better -- so, for example, PC4800 memory outperforms PC3200 memory. Often, it's less important to know what these terms mean than to simply know which kinds of memory your motherboard supports, since that's the limiting factor when selecting memory. Of course, there are many resources for learning the specifics of memory; the Websites for memory vendors and manufacturers often provide help, and you can always look up the acronyms and terms you encounter in an online encyclopedia.

The video card

Originally, the video card simply drew the pictures your monitor displayed; today, video cards also do tremendous amounts of processing, especially when used by graphic artists and gamers. PCI-Express (often just called PCI-E) is the current standard for video cards, so a simple PCI-E video card only requires that your motherboard has a PCI-E interface. Similarly, a PCI-E x16 card requires that your motherboard have a PCI-E x16 interface. However, if you're looking to use a technology like SLI or CrossFire for multiple PCI-E video cards, make sure your motherboard supports the specific technology your video cards employ.

The hard drive and other drives

The hard drive is the storage space for your computer. From the operating system that runs your computer to the applications you use to the files you create and save, everything needs storage space on your hard drive. When it comes to hard drives, bigger is better, as is higher RPM speed. Common types of hard drives include IDE and SATA; you can count on most every motherboard to have two IDE interfaces to accommodate two IDE devices, whether hard drives, CD-ROM drives or DVD-ROM drives. But SATA, while not new anymore, is still considered a "high-performance" interface, and not every motherboard will have SATA interfaces.

If you want a high-performance hard drive setup (short of using the expensive technologies that servers employ), SATA is the way to go. If your motherboard supports RAID, then you can configure your hard drives in one of several ways to greatly increase hard drive performance or reliability. If you pursue this path, start by seeing exactly which technologies your motherboard supports.

You can also get CD or DVD drives for your computer as well as a variety of other drives. The majority of these devices simply use the IDE interfaces that nearly every motherboard has two of (with each of those interfaces accomadating two devices).

Other components: the sound card, network interface card and the like

There are a variety of other things you might want for your computer, such as a sound card, a network interface card, an additional USB interface and so on. Fortunately, many motherboards include some or all of these, so you may not need to replace any of them unless you need a higher-performance alternative. For example, musicians, audiophiles and gamers may want an after-market sound card to get the best sound from their computer. As with many components, you should be sure that your computer has the interface that these cards require, checking with the manufacturer for exceptions and specific requirements to make sure your computer can handle your new components.

The case and the power supply

For many people, components are all they see: The case is simply the box that holds all the pieces, and the power supply plugs the computer into a power output. Inside the computer, the power supply also connects to the motherboard, the hard drive and other drives and any other components that require power, such as the video card and sound card.

When you're selecting a computer case, find out if it supports the "form factor" of your motherboard. The majority of motherboards are either ATX or micro-ATX, and the majority of cases can accommodate these form factors. Take note if your motherboard requires a different form factor.

Your choice in power supply should have interfaces for all of the drives and cards that need individual connections and enough wattage to handle everything. Some people with an aftermarket power supply are surprised to find their computers suddenly shut off when they try to burn a DVD -- little did they realize that their power supply simply couldn't provide enough power for it! Power supplies advertise their wattages, but typically with peak wattage numbers. Most power supplies provide RMS wattages (average wattages) thare are a fraction of their peak wattages. Make sure the RMS wattage of your power supply is large enough to handle the RMS wattage requirements of all of your components. A higher quality (and, consequently, higher priced) power supply provides an RMS output far closer to the advertised output than a cheap power supply; just remember: You get what you pay for!