Buying a PC that's right for you and your family is not all that simple task. More so if you're going to buy an unbranded or an assembled one. But branded or not, you have to get you facts right before you shell out your money. First, why do you want to buy a PC? Is it because almost every one has one these days, or that you have money to spare. If these are reasons are that you want to end up spending a lot of money on something you're unlikely to use. But if your reasons are that you want it for home based business, or for your kids for their education, or to work at home, or that you want to surf net, you are on right track. Now let's get down to specifics. What do you need it for? Take a piece of paper and write down what all you need to do with pc.

Spreadsheets, Word processing, Surfing Web, sending e-mail, playing games. Running multimedia, Watching movies, playing music ,CAD drawings, graphics designing, Web designing. Programming and Online learning.

Make your list. Why? Because different needs need Different PCs. You really don't need latest computer if all you're going to do is browsing, no matter what vendor tells you.

When you make your list be sure to look a little ahead and see what all other things you might be using computer for. For instance, do you think you are likely to take up graphics designing? Or will kids start playing all those high-end games?

How much money do you want to spend?

Get hang of money you can spend on PC. Then you have to look for PC that suits your needs and your budget. This may need some balancing even, if your requirements are huge and budget isn't. This will also decide if you should go for branded PC or an assembled one.

Brand or assembled?

This is a question that has gone on for a while now. A year ago, branded ones. We recommend that you go for a PC for which you can get assured service and support.

What is it?

This is part that has computer's basic circuitry and components. The processors, meomory, BIOS, expansion slots, etc all go on motherboard.

What's available?

Right now you have two broad choices for a motherboard. The motherboards based on Intel 845 chipset have graphics and audio capabilities on to board itself-that's what they mean by integrated graphics and audio onboard. In case you're looking for better graphics (say, you will be moving to high-end games, or graphics, or CAD or need better sound environmental audio, sound-editing), you'll have to get some high-end video and audio cards. Which such a motherboard won't support. You could, in such cards.

What to ask vendor :

What are upgrades possible on this motherboard? Which processors are supported? How much are upgrades going to cost?

Processor----What is it?

The brain of PC. You don't always have to go for fastest. And just having a processor that's fast won't do. The rest of system has to keep up with it.

What's available?

Among low-end ones available are Celeron, AMD K6.2 and K6-3, and now AMD'S Duron. They are available in different clock speeds-go for one you can afford. Among high-end processors are Pentium 4 and AMD's 2400+ XP, P4 2 GHz and more.

Also remember that a processor alone can't make PC zip. For instance, A P4 on an 845 motherboard that doesn't have much graphics capability isn't of much use.

How much do you need?

If you are going to work on office application like word processors and spreadsheets, and some browsing, a Celeron or an AMD K6 series, AMD XP 2200 would do. For work that needs more processing power you have to go for a Pentium 4 2GHz or more an AMD XP 2400+ and more. You'll find some Pentium IIIs in market but Intel Doesn't makes them anymore.

Hard Disk---What is it?

This is place where all your program and data will b stored on PC. Your PC's performance will depend upon rate at which your hard disk can read data and give it to other parts. The speed of a hard disk is measured in rpm. These days most hard disks come with a speed of 7200 rpm. And some other available in hard disk 20GB, 40GB, 80 GB, and for more on how to take care of your hard disk, check out The Hard Disk Guide at http:/ hepcyoubuy.com/01042004.htm

How much do you need?

Most PCs now come with 40 GB of hard disk space. With fat OSs and fatter office suites and games, you'll need some bit of space. 40 GB is quite common, now even 1000 GB doesn't raise eyebrows. So do take those offers of GB's with a huge bag of salt.

RAM---What is it?