If you have the right information, then you can get a lot out of a desktop computer. If this is something you’re interested in, this article is here to help. Use what you’re about to learn so you can get all the experience you need to work with desktop computers.

If you are going to be doing some upgrades to your desktop computer be sure to ground yourself before you begin working on your computer. A simple jolt of static electricity can be more than enough to fry your motherboard. If you do not ground yourself, you will be putting your whole system at risk.

Find someone who is getting rid of their desktop. Many people are shifting to laptop to tablets, so many are selling their desktops at great prices. These computers usually work fine too, but run them through their paces to be sure before you buy.

Perform a boot check if you find that your computer is running slower than it should. You can perform a boot check on a new desktop by going on the start emnu and running “ms config.” This will tell you which programs are being opened at start up. If there are programs you rarely use, click them so they do not begin when you boot your computer. You should see a difference with your computer running more quickly afterward.

If you have a home office or a small business, a laptop computer probably will not meet all your needs. While a portable computer is great when you are out and about, a desktop model is better if you need a printer, copier, fax and scanner. Also, many people find typing on a regular keyboard is easier than working on a laptop.

When shopping for a computer, don’t assume that a system new to you is actually new. Many of the greatest deals are refurbished systems, which is openly acknowledged. However, sales clerks will often say that these were just systems sitting on display shelves or bought and quickly returned. In some cases, these systems are as old as a decade and just came back from a business lease.

How much hard drive space do you need? Look at the sizes available in terms of how many photos they can hold for an easy reference. A 500GB hard drive holds 100,000 photos, for example, or the equivalent of 38 hours of video or 125,000 MP3 songs, which is more than enough for most.

If you really want to save money on a new computer, check out refurbished models or open box systems. These can typically be had at deep discounts or even fractions of the retail price of a new one. Do check out what kind of warranty and certification they come with. Ideally, you want a refurbished system that has been checked out twice.

Now that you’ve taken some time out to work with learning about desktop computers, you should know where to begin. Just take some time and be a little patient as you go along. You may want to print out this article so you can use it while you work on learning desktop computers.