Are you considering getting a new PC? If you answered in the affirmative, you may be curious about what you can afford. There are many things to consider when shopping for a computer. Continue reading this article to get a grasp on the PC marketplace.

Always have anti virus on your desktop. If not, you could end up with malware. Malicious software slows down your computer and can even steal personal information. There are numerous programs that can scan and repair as needed.

If you do photo or video work, you’ll want a desktop computer with at least four cores. Called quad-core, this desktop will give you a lot of multitasking ability. Your computer won’t stutter when you have multiple big programs open. This will save you a lot of frustration during your work sessions.

For the best deal when buying a new desktop computer, shop during and after back to school time or just before Christmas. These are the times when computer companies offer great deals on many of their best selling computers. Computer companies will also offer bundles of desktops and printers that can save you extra money.

Decide what you’re going to be using the desktop for first. Many people buy a computer that is upgraded for capabilities that they won’t even be using. Your personal interests and your planned uses for the computer should help you decide what specs should be included in your new machine.

When shopping for a computer, don’t assume that a system new to you is actually new. Many of the greatest deals are refurbished systems, which is openly acknowledged. However, sales clerks will often say that these were just systems sitting on display shelves or bought and quickly returned. In some cases, these systems are as old as a decade and just came back from a business lease.

If you want to run many programs at once, you’ll need at least 4GB of RAM. If you just want to do simple tasks, less than 4GB will be okay. Want to play video games? Look for 10GB and above to ensure your games aren’t lagged and hard to play.

Try online comparison shopping when you need a desktop computer. Using comparison sites that show what a certain model offers across multiple brands can help you you decide where to buy. It can also save you a lot of money. Certain sites may offer useful additions and free shipping.

The computer world has changed a lot, and desktops that are ready-made are now cheaper than a lot of laptops. You can pick up a decent desktop for as little as $400 at many stores. Make sure any dealer you buy from is a reputable one.

When looking for a computer system, keep an eye out for what kind of graphics chipset it has. Cheaper systems tend to have video cards that are called on-board, or integrated. This means it is actually part of the motherboard. You are going to get far better video quality and gaming from a dedicated video card that is attached in a slot.

When buying a new computer, consider which way your drives point. If you can’t open them fully because there is a monitor, wall or other obstacle in the way, you’ll find your computer does nothing but frustrate you. The same goes for usb or headphone ports, or the power switch.

You can put this advice to good use the next time you need a new desktop. Now that you have this information, you will be able to make a better decision. This is a large investment, so be sure to choose wisely.