Almost all homes these days have at least one desktop computer. It provides you with great computing power, perfect for playing video games, surfing the Internet, word processing or other uses. To buy the perfect machine, check out the tips below.

You should have an anti-virus program on your computer. Without this, you will have to worry about malware entering your operating system. Malicious software programs can hijack your personal information and slow down your computer processing speed. There are quite a few applications that will automatically scan and fix your desktop.

If you want your computer to perform day in and out at high levels, make sure you dust out the interior every week. The external casing is usually easily removed, and then you can simply spray the dust away using a compressed air dispenser or other product made especially for this purpose. This will prevent dust from entering the computer and will lower its temperature.

Invest in Parallels for your Mac computer. This software lets you use PC programs on the Mac. You are able to use any PC program you want. You will also need to buy the actual operating system separately.

If you’re dreaming of playing video games for fun, you must have a desktop computer meant to handle gaming easily. Make sure the computer has a video card that’s good, a memory of a minimum of 4 GB, and a resolution display that’s high. Also, you can purchase special controllers and keyboards to boost your play.

Know where to find manuals for your new computer, especially if they are online. Make sure that you don’t end up in a bind if you can’t get online.

Does the computer you are looking at contain enough memory? This is a vital aspect of a new computer. Are you planning on keeping a lot files on your hard drive? Do you take photographs that you need to store? Memory questions are very common from desktop computer shoppers and you should be able to get good advice from retail store personnel as well as the computer manufacturer about memory capacity and issues for specific desktop computers.

Mini PCs are a great green option. They use little electricity to run, but they provide enough power in processing to get the jobs done. This machine is great if you like to browse the web daily.

Don’t buy a desktop computer that is overly cheap. Sometimes, these computers are cheap for a reason. Purchase from manufacturers who have a good reputation. A price that appears way low is likely a solid clue that things aren’t as they seem. Independent sellers might offer you a great deal, but the devices might require repairs.

Learn about your options for upgrades before making a purchase. Often times the costs of having the seller do it will be a lot less than if you bought the part separately and had another 3rd party handle the upgrade.

Don’t pay attention to the original warranty on a used computer. Most manufactures will not transfer warranties to different owners. If you think that buying a second-hand desktop computer is the right choice, you may not be entitled to get a warranty.

Shop smartly when comparing prices. Computers are not cheap. There are a lot of good deals out there, but you need to know exactly what you need from a computer. Know about the hardware. It pays to find the right blend of output and value.

Hard drives come in two different types, with various options available among those two types. The latest type is called SSD, while the more common type is the HDD. SSD drives will be faster but also hold less data and cost more.

If you decide to buy a secondhand desktop, remember that often it is not possible to transfer the warranty. This means that any problems that crop up are left to you to resolve. Consider whether you can affordable this before buying.

Operating System

What is the best operating system for you? There are differences between each system. If you’re used to Windows 7, you may not like the Windows 8 operating system, for example. Be sure to choose the computer that has the OS that you are comfortable with.

Many computers now come with SSD drives; these boot up much more quickly than others. These solid state drives have the most commonly used apps, programs, and the operating system installed to boot the computer in juts a few seconds. Have a large data drive so you can back everything up if the SSD fails.

When you want to edit video or play games, you’re going to need a powerful computer. If you tend only to surf the web or answer emails, then you only really need a very basic desktop. You can find a computer when you know what you need.