Techtonic #2

 Hi everybody! Today I will cover the basics of desktops. Even with desktops, it is important to understand the purpose of each and every component, even though most of the components are the same as laptops, the most notable difference being the power supply. Goes without saying that the majority of components in desktops will be more powerful than their laptop counterparts. What I find amazing about desktops is the customization you can get. To start with, you can either buy a prebuilt/stock desktop or assemble your own. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. To start with, readymade ones do not require any knowledge to assemble and they have a standard warranty, but they do not always have the best quality components. With customized desktops, you will need to learn how to source and assemble various components & assemble them together. You do not get a warranty either. You will have to choose what is right for you. Today I will be sharing some basic information about buying or assembling desktops. So, let’s start, if you want a normal computer to work on, watch movies, etc., getting a desktop with an i3 or a Ryzen 3 should do. You can choose 8 GB of ram and an SSD to make it ideal for you. Some desktops like a Dell Vostro have these components at a reasonable price. If you want to build your own desktop, here is a list of components I recommend (pls note I am listing parts from the USA & these prices may vary in different countries) https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Z9tJtn  I have just mentioned the core components though there are many other things like case fans / fan controllers/cable management and thermal paste to choose from. Also, I have selected a 500 GB SSD whereas everyone needs to select the storage that they need. Let's move on to some advanced desktops, like the apple mac studio and other apple m1 chip desktops. These computers are extremely powerful they have a lot of ram and can handle almost anything though they usually are pretty expensive. I would recommend getting a Core i7 12th gen and RTX 3050 8GB along with 16 GB of ram and storage of your choice. If you want to assemble your own desktop for heavy use here is a list of parts/components I recommend... https://pcpartpicker.com/list/L9wVDq  again, these are just the core components there are other things to select. That covers my take on powerful desktops so let's start with gaming computers. Gaming computers are known to be some of the most powerful computers. They focus on CPU and GPU, and according to me the Alienware aurora line is really good. They offer almost all components at a reasonable price. If anyone wants to buy a prebuilt gaming computer the Alienware aurora line offers you the option to select each and every component to make it a great desktop. There some other options too, like Lenovo legion or ASUS rog but Alienware aurora simply stands out to be the best. If you want to assemble your own gaming pc here is a list of components I recommend https://pcpartpicker.com/list/3pVYLs   

Each gamer requires a different gaming pc. Those who play basic games won't need anything more than a GTX 1650 or GTX 1660, an RTX 2060 although slightly more expensive would allow better graphics quality and ray tracing. https://pcpartpicker.com/list/ZVmHRv  

Gamers who like to play some heavy games like Batman Arkham knight or Battlefield 2042 require slightly more powerful graphics cards like an RTX 3060 or 3070, whereas people who play really heavy games on the highest settings require not only powerful graphics but also a powerful processor. Here is a list of parts for a more powerful gaming pc that is more suitable for heavy tasks  https://pcpartpicker.com/list/zjKXnt   and here is a list of parts for one of the better gaming desktops  https://pcpartpicker.com/list/t3xfhk  . 

To sum up a major question in the computer world, that is, to buy a prebuilt or a custom build? The solution is different for people who are particularly fond of computers and aim for top performance. They can & should opt for a custom build or assemble their own desktop. Prebuilt's are usually less expensive and come with standard warranties.  

At the end of the day, everyone uses their desktop differently, some may not require anything more than a core i3 while some may need the most powerful computers, and this is what makes desktops so special - you can customize a desktop however you like. 

Regards... 

Ranbir.