If you’re doing A Levels or heading off to uni, you might want to think about getting a desktop PC. These powerful machines can keep up with all your work whatever you’re studying.
Before you actually buy one, it’s worth thinking about a few things first. What will you be using it for? What programs will you need? What features are you after? Let’s start from the top:
1. Are you a Windows or Apple person?
One of the first questions to think about is which type of computer you want to go for - Windows or Apple. This mostly comes down to personal preference, but here are the main benefits of both:
Microsoft Windows
Office365 is built to run on Windows PCs, and has programs you might already be used to – Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook**.** And with OneDrive, you can save your work in progress, log into the library computers and pick up where you left off.
There’s a huge range of Windows PCs and they tend to be slightly cheaper than Macs with similar specifications. If your priority is power on a budget, Windows is probably the way to go.
Apple
Apple products look and feel cutting-edge, and If you already have an iPhone or iPad, you might want to go for an Apple iMac, so you can seamlessly switch between.
iMacs are famous for their quality design. They’re also great at helping you to safe online, and offer next-level protection from viruses and hackers (but it’s still worth investing in security and anti-virus software).
2. How much power can you handle?
If you’re mainly drafting essays and assignments, watching Netflix and catching up on social media, you won’t need as much processing power as designers, gamers or creatives who use power-hungry software.
The processor is the brain of your PC, so here’s a rough guide to the types that might suit you best:
Everyday essay writing and web browsing – Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3.
Design subjects that use Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop – Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5.
Multitaskers who want to stream Spotify, work in Excel and chat online all at once – Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5.
Video editors, spreadsheet pros and design students – Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7.
3. How much desk space do you have?
Student halls aren’t known for being spacious. If your room is on the ‘cosy’ side, an all-in-one desktop is a pretty nifty space-saver.
With all-in-ones, the components are built into the monitor, so you don’t have to find space for a bulky tower and separate monitor. They’re easy to set up too – just plug in the power adapter, mouse and keyboard and you’re ready to go.
4. Do you have a need for speed?
The last thing you want when you’re facing tight deadlines is an endlessly whirring wheel on your screen and a noise like a jumbo jet revving up. That’s why a solid-state drive (or SSD) is without a doubt the best internal storage option for desktop PCs.
The first thing you’ll notice is how much faster your PC can load up with an SSD. Better yet, it can write large files and access saved work in a matter of seconds, making it easier to dive straight into your projects.
5. What’s your best storage option?
Loads of us use streaming services like Spotify, Deezer and Apple Music for unwinding with tunes and podcasts. But if you’ve still got a big archive of albums, movies and photos, you’ll need to think about where they’ll be stored. It’s worth knowing roughly how much storage you’ll need before you buy a PC. That way, you’ll never run out of space.
You’ve got two main options:
Get a PC with a large hard drive. This is where desktops have an advantage over laptops – you can get much more storage for your money.
Buy an external hard drive to store large files and back up your computer.
Some desktops come with a fast SSD and a large hard disk drive (or HDD), giving you the best of both worlds. That way, you can save the files you regularly open for instant access and archive your old coursework on a separate drive to free up more space.
Need any more help?
For more help choosing the right PC, check out our desktop buying guide. If you’d like to talk to an expert, pop in-store or have a video chat using ShopLive. When you’ve made your choice, we’ve got some great advice on getting started with your new laptop or desktop.
Think a laptop might be better for you than a PC? Ask yourself these 5 questions before buying a laptop for uni.
