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The new academic year has just begun in universities, and students everywhere are on the lookout for computers. Of course, they want it to be cheap and hardy. It should last them three years or more.
I am giving you some options for buying a computer. I will give the technical specifications and the exact configurations so that you are not taken for a ride by whoever assembles your PC.
First comes the processor. Since we are going for a cheaper option, I will not dwell on Intel processors which are more expensive. AMD is a competitor of Intel. It makes very good processors which are often under-rated. I suggest you buy the AMD Dual Core X2 4200 AM2. This costs around Rs 3,100. A slightly cheaper version is the AMD X2 4000 AM2 that comes for Rs 2,900. You can increase the performance by up to 80 per cent with the AMD X2 dual-core processors. You can work with multiple programs without any stalling or waiting. Dual-core technology is like having two processors, and two working together is better and faster than one working alone.
Next is the motherboard. The motherboard can be compared to the human body’s nervous system. The wires (nerves) on it transfer data between all the other components. This is the main circuit board inside the computer that has the central processing unit. All peripherals are connected to the motherboard in some way or the other. Having a high-quality motherboard is essential to a reliable computer. You have three options: ASUS M2V-MX that costs Rs 2,700; ASUS M2N-MX SE PLUS that comes for Rs 2,900 and Gigabyte’s GA-M61SME-S2 that costs just Rs 2,600. Choose one that suits your budget.
Now we need to select a good RAM (random access memory). This is the working memory of a computer where data and programs are temporarily stored. When the computer is turned off, the information disappears from the RAM. Buy at least 1 GB of DDR2 RAM from either Hynix, Transcend, Zion or Kingston. This should cost you around Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,600.
Hard Disk prices are quite similar whether you buy it from Seagate, Maxtor, Western Digital or Samsung. For 80 GB you will have to shell out Rs 1,950 and for 160 GB Rs 2,300.
Monitors are not that expensive any more. A CRT 15-inch monitor comes for Rs 4,000 while an LCD 15- or 16-inch one for around Rs 7,000.
Now you need a case for your motherboard and the rest of the stuff. A Standard ATX cabinet with SMPS fitted would cost approximately Rs 1,000 whether it is from Zebronics, iBall or Frontech. The keyboard and mouse will come at a standard price of Rs 500. You would definitely like to equip your PC with CD/DVD Combo Drive. I prefer the one manufactured by LG and it costs only around Rs 1,266.
Don’t bother spending on an UPS. Just remember to save your work every now and then and you will be fine. I have done it for all these years, running my expensive PCs without an UPS. And I haven’t faced any hardware failure yet. Touch wood!
So your grand total will vary between Rs 15,000 and Rs 19,000. This is the unassembled total. The person who assembles your computer will charge you anything between 7 per cent and 10 per cent of the total price.
A word of caution about the person assembling your PC. Make sure he knows about hardware as well as software. According to Vikram Sen of Qusol Integrated, most assemblers just put the various parts together and know very little about the mechanics of the computer. This poses a huge problem, because when there is a hitch these mechanics just format the hard drive to get rid of the error which is often caused by a simple malware or virus. Vikram is a hardware specialist, running his computer institute from 26A Anwar Shah Road, Calcutta. His firm, besides providing computer training, also assembles PCs for all needs. His high-end assembled PCs for gaming are masterpieces. If you are a gamer, contact him at 033-24220480.
Laptop
I personally prefer a Mac. Apple has reduced the prices of its products. A MacBook, which students all over the world use when they join university, costs just Rs 48,000. If you own a PC which has reached the end of its life, run to the Apple Authorised Premium Reseller at City Centre, Salt Lake, Calcutta, and hand it over to them. You can then walk out with a brand new MacBook for just Rs 42,000. You have time till June 28 for this.
If you cannot afford a Mac, then buy a Lenovo laptop, also sold by Qusol, for Rs 21,000, inclusive of all hidden costs.
Send in your computer-related problems to askdoss@abpmail.com. The solutions will appear soon.
