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Here's what you should consider before buying a new computer in 2022.
Computers are essential parts of our daily lives. Especially in office environments, but also at home, you need fast PCs to work or use multimedia services like YouTube. So when buying a computer, you should make sure you get the right PC or laptop.

Unfortunately, computers are technical devices and therefore no longer state-of-the-art after a few years. If the PC was the best in its class, fast and quiet when you bought it five years ago, today it may no longer be able to keep up with the demands made by many software programmes.

If you need a new PC but don't know what to look for when choosing, you've come to the right place. We explain what matters when buying a computer in 2023.

gaming chairs

Here is an infographic first:

1. PC or laptop: which makes more sense?
You may still be faced with the question of whether a stand-alone PC or a laptop is better suited to you and your needs. First, you should ask yourself the following questions: Do you always work at the same workplace, or sometimes in the company, sometimes in the home office, sometimes in a café? Do you work with very performance-intensive programmes, such as CAD programmes, or are you a gamer? Do you need very powerful graphics cards? Or are light programmes like MS Office enough for you?

Advantages of floor-standing PCs:

Cheaper than laptops: prices for good PCs start at €300-400
Can be upgraded at any time, as adding a graphics card or hard drive is usually not a problem
Standalone PCs have more power at a better price/performance ratio and are better suited for large programmes and games
Monitor, mouse and keyboard can be freely selected and do not necessarily have to be purchased new when changing computer
Floor-standing PCs are easy to unscrew and clean
Advantages of laptops:

They are agile and can be taken anywhere
Laptops do not necessarily need a power socket and can run on battery power for up to 12 hours
Notebooks are more difficult to clean and upgrade. They usually have to be sent to the manufacturer for repair, which can sometimes take several weeks.

Powerful laptops are more expensive than stand-alone PCs: good standard laptops that are suitable for word processing programmes and surfing the internet start at €400. If you really need the laptop for working or watching films on it, you should not spend less than 700€ for it.

As an alternative to the classic tower, there are also mini PCs that are only the size of a small box. They can easily be placed on the desk next to or behind the monitor. Of course, this looks much better than classic computers and saves space (but be careful, the connection cables should be neatly laid!). You don't have to compromise on performance with mini PCs either. The only disadvantages are that they cannot be individually expanded and additional drives have to be connected externally.

2 The processor: the heart of a computer
Choosing the right processor determines the overall performance of the PC and is therefore an important factor when buying a computer.

What is a processor?
Processor
The processor is also called the CPU (Central Processing Unit). The CPU is the central processing unit that executes instructions.  It is not only found in computers, but also in many electronic devices such as washing machines, dryers or other household appliances (Internet of Things, IoT 4.0).

The two best-known manufacturers of CPUs are Intel and AMD. Processors perform computing operations and control parts of the computer. Since the processor only understands binary codes, i.e. only zeros and ones, each number or digit must be rewritten into a binary code, which is then processed by the processor.

The rhythm or clock frequency of a processor determines the performance of the computer. The higher the clock frequency, the faster the processor processes instructions. The speed of the rhythms is measured in hertz. One hertz is one beat per second. Computers usually make noise when they are working. This is often caused by the fan that has to cool the processor.

High clock speeds cause high heat losses that must be compensated for by a fan. Otherwise the processor can be damaged.

Which processor is suitable for me?
You need to consider beforehand how much power you need and for what purpose you are using your computer. Is it a pure business PC with simple word processing programs? Do you want to use performance-intensive software such as CAD programmes, graphics programmes or a document management system? Or do you want it to be a gaming PC? The more demanding the requirements, the more powerful processors should be chosen.

To increase the performance of processors, you connect several processors together without increasing the clock frequency. This is called a multi-core processor. A distinction is made between single-core processors, dual-core processors, quad-core processors, hexa-core processors and octa-core processors, or a higher combination.

The more processors that are merged, the better the performance, as a rule (there are limits here, because the processors in turn have to be controlled!). Your new PC should therefore not have less than dual-core. Multi-core processors are better. Intel produces good processors in different classes and distinguishes between Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 and Core i9. Another important distinction is the processor generation within the i-family: e.g. i7 - 7th generation, or 8th generation. There are significant differences in performance and power consumption here, and you should generally opt for a processor of the latest generation.

There are large price differences between computers with the respective processors.

Generally, i5 processors are suitable for good business PCs and laptops. I7 is only needed for intensive use and games. Laptops with i3 processors will hardly be available on the market in 2022. The trend is therefore naturally towards more powerful processors, which should be taken into account when buying a computer.

Tip: We recommend i5 or i7 processors in most cases.

3. main memory for more performance
The choice of RAM is also an important criterion for the speed of the PC. If possible, you should not save on the main memory, because if it becomes scarce and data has to be temporarily stored in other storage media, the work processes become much slower. With enough RAM, you can work more smoothly and reduce the load on the system.

What is main memory?
Working memory is the memory in a computer that contains the programmes or parts of programmes that are currently being executed and the data that is needed for this. The processor accesses the RAM (or main memory) directly, so its size and capability is critical to the overall performance of the PC.

Also called "RAM" (random-access memory), the main memory temporarily stores all running processes and programmes. A RAM module usually has 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 gigabytes of memory. For very low requirements, 4 GB RAM is sufficient. However, we recommend at least 8 GB RAM for PCs and laptops. RAM is relatively cheap and can be easily upgraded in stand-alone PCs. Our tip: Don't skimp on RAM, otherwise you will be annoyed by slow processes.

Tip: Don't skimp on the size of the RAM - 8 GB is a sensible value for normal PCs.

Which hard disk is the right one? HDD or SSD?
HDD hard disk
While the processor is often called the heart or brain of the computer, the hard disk is the memory. Data is stored on hard disks. A distinction is made between SSD (Solid State Drive) and HDD (Hard Disk Drive) hard disks. The classic HDDs consist of one or more magnetic disks and one read head each. While the magnetic discs rotate during operation, the read head moves over the discs and reads out the stored data.

SSDs, on the other hand, consist of many flash memories, which are also built into USB sticks. For some years now, SSDs have been increasingly installed because they have enormous advantages over HDDs. Since SSDs do not contain any mechanical parts, they are much more robust than HDDs. While HDDs are bound to suffer defects and data loss if they fall, SSDs are much less sensitive.

However, the most important factor in favour of an SSD is that it works significantly faster than a classic hard disk, namely up to twice. In addition, SSDs are lighter, more efficient and thus consume less battery. HDDs are (still) cheaper than SSDs and (still) offer more storage space. Nevertheless, we strongly recommend a powerful SSD, also with a view to the future.

For simple word processing, 256 GB SSD are sufficient, for more storage requirements 512 GB SSD are recommended. If you do decide to go for a classic HDD, it is best to go for at least 1 TB of storage space or choose the hybrid solution, an SSHD.

Tip: SSD hard disks allow you to work more smoothly and are an investment in the future.

5. graphics card
Graphics cards are responsible for generating the graphics output, i.e. for rendering the individual images (also called "frames"). A graphics processor, or GPU for short, is installed in the graphics card. The GPU performance also determines the price of the graphics cards. The GPU takes over the delivery of the images that were previously communicated to it by the CPU (the processor).

When choosing the right graphics card, the intended use is again decisive. Similar to the CPU, there are huge price ranges for graphics cards. If you are not a gamer or use other graphics-intensive programmes, the built-in graphics cards in most stand-alone PCs and laptops are sufficient. These are usually models that are somewhat older.

Nevertheless, they are capable of handling the most common home and business applications. If you use graphics-intensive programmes such as CAD programs, image editing or play games, then you should invest in a high-quality graphics card. As a rule of thumb, the CPU and GPU should match. So computers with a strong CPU also need a graphics card with a strong GPU and vice versa. Otherwise, the performance provided by a powerful CPU cannot be fully exploited.

ASUS Nvidia Geforce RTX 2060 Gaming Graphics Card
High-end graphics cards for gamers are manufactured by ASUS and AMD, for example. They are characterised by particularly high performance values and are usually relatively high-priced.

6. interfaces
Make sure the PC has USB 3.0 / 3.1 and HDMI/DVI interfaces. This way, most devices and monitors can be connected to the computer. Several USB interfaces are ideal so that you can connect the most common devices such as mouse, keyboard, printer and USB sticks in parallel.

7. the right monitor
If you need a new monitor, you should make sure that the PC has the right interface. Monitors can usually be connected to the computer via DVI or HDMI. When choosing the right monitor, size is important. Monitors in office environments usually have a size of 22" - 27" (inches).

In addition, monitors differ in many factors. You should make sure that the monitor is anti-reflective, as non-anti-reflective monitors can irritate the eyes when working for long periods of time. Other important features are brightness and response time. The response time should not exceed 5 milliseconds so as not to make working difficult. Brighter displays are better in bright environments.

There are height-adjustable monitors and those where you can change the tilt angle. Height-adjustability is definitely recommended for ergonomic work. There are now also monitors that filter out blue light. Blue light is harmful to health in the long run, so this is another useful feature.

8. operating system: already installed?
Many PCs are delivered with the operating system already installed. This is usually Microsoft Windows 10 or 8, or in the case of Apple, OS. Some PCs do not have an operating system pre-installed. You should pay attention to this if you need one and do not want to incur additional costs.

9. PC accessories: mouse and keyboard
You will also need a mouse and a keyboard with a floor-standing PC. Wireless keyboards and mice are practical because they only require one USB port and there is no cable in the way. In theory, you don't need a mouse for laptops if the touchpad included is sufficient.

10 Quality pays off when buying a computer
Look for quality! When it comes to computers, the saying is true: if you buy cheap, you buy twice. Because an incorrectly configured PC quickly becomes noticeable. Although very cheap PCs often offer good performance data, the components used are usually cheaply made and show defects after a short time. If you then have to return your computer for repair, it will be expensive.

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