When you are purchasing computer hardware a few more dollars can make a big difference. Let's start with the motherboard (the big green board inside the computer to which everything is fastened). The type of motherboard that is most popular is the ATX (Advanced Technology Extended). It is used in most desktop PCs today. The newer version of this motherboard is the BTX which has much better thermal regulation. BTX is used in Gateway and Dell computers. Sure, an HP is cheaper, but is it worth a few more dollars to get a computer that won't overheat? I think so. The BTX motherboard design puts all the big heat-producers in the line of the air flow system of the computer so it takes the heat out of your computer. Big improvement over the ATX which still amazingly dominates the market.
When you are trying to decide how much memory to get inside your computer, you have to ask how many slots are filled, how many slots are empty, how big are the memory modules you are getting, and if you want to upgrade later, do you have to take out any sticks or can you just add more memory. If you have to take out sticks and discard them, it's worth it to upgrade the memory now.
A good quality surge protector pays off in the long run! It saves your hard drive which costs a lot more than the 30$ you would pay for a Belkin surge protector.
If buying a laptop, you need a well padded bag. Don't get the cheap end. You'll regret it when your computer gets banged up or worse yet the LCD screen cracks.
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