15 tips for buying a Windows 10 PC

Tech November 23, 2015 13:00

- Have you been waiting to buy a new PC to Windows 10, then now is the time to get started. But what parts do you need? The new PC or compatible with your old applications? Build yourself a new PC or you go for a ready-made system? We help you on your way.

Tip 1- Hardware and software Under the hood looks a lot like Windows 10 Windows 7 and Windows 8. Working your applications properly on these operating systems, it is almost certain that they also work with Windows 10. The good news is that Windows 7 and Windows 8 users can upgrade for free. During the upgrade go some lost functions. For example, Windows 10 supports Windows Media Center and Windows 7 desktop gadgets not. Through the Windows Compatibility Center you can check whether your hardware and applications work with Windows 10. If an application is not compatible with Windows 10, you can consider using the application in a virtual machine. Tip 1- The online compatibility center you can verify that hardware and software work with Windows 10. Tip 2- UpgradenKom you are not eligible for an upgrade, Windows 10 still works as possible on your old computer. Namely the operating system does not make high demands on the hardware. A processor of 1 GHz, 1 GB RAM (2 GB for 64-bit system), 16 GB of free storage space and at least a DirectX 9 graphics card with WDDM driver. Windows XP and Vista can not be upgraded, a clean installation (or dual boot) is then necessary to use Windows 10. Tip 2- With Speccy you can see which items you have in your PC. To see what hardware is inside the computer, you can use the free program Speccy. Then search through the Windows Compatibility Center (see tip 1) or the components work with Windows 10. In most cases new drivers are advised. Download the drivers before you install Windows 10 and store them on a USB stick. Also make a first full backup of the drive with a backup program like EASEUS Todo Backup Free. The hardware is usually not compatible if there are no drivers available. Tip 3- Home vs. Prohet difference between Windows 10 and Windows 10 Home Pro will be negligible for most people. Windows 10 Pro focuses primarily on the business user. Features like BitLocker Group Policy Management, access to the business Store and the ability to log on the computer to a domain (Active Directory) missing from in Home version. Do you use Hyper-V (virtual machines) and remote connections via Remote Desktop, you can consider the Pro edition, but free tools like TeamViewer and VirtualBox are also good alternatives. A complete overview of the differences can be found in a clear table on Wikipedia. Tip 3- Right click on My computer and choose Properties to see which version of Windows you're running. If you upgrade the computer, you get the version that Microsoft is closest to your current installation. Windows 8. 1 Home, Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, or Home Premium are upgraded to Windows 10 Home. Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate or Windows 8. 1 Pro users get Windows 10 Pro. Who is not eligible for the upgrade, for 129 euros respectively the full version of Windows 10 Home and for 249 euro buy Windows 10 professional. Tip 4- What PC Previously, the computer was a big beige box with a thick monitor?. Nowadays, getting computers in many shapes and sizes, so you can fully align your needs. First make the choice of where you will use the new computer. Did you travel frequently, then choose between a laptop, ultrabook, netbook or tablet. Will he stand in a fixed place, then a normal desktop or workstation an option. Can the system does not take up too much space, then an all-in-one nettop PC or an option. Tip 4- in the past we had a personal computer, today we can choose from many sizes and shapes. Then decide what tasks need to run the computer. For a bit of Internet and e-mail does not need much. A simple processor, standard hard drive and 4GB of memory suffice then. Want to use heavy applications, then a powerful CPU and an SSD certainly important. GWe therefore recommend 8 GB or 16 GB of memory. For gaming, the graphics card is the most important part. It is important that you first consider what you want to do with your new computer to avoid disappointments. Tip 5- Self bouwenHet advantage of a self-built system is that you know exactly what components are inside and you can keep equal account any future extensions. Choose a heavier diet if you want to buy an additional graphics card or a motherboard with more memory slots when you expect that you want to buy more memory later. Find the right parts together is, however, a tough job. There are differences in the size, manufacturer and speed. It is like a big puzzle that have to fit all the puzzle pieces together. Tip 5- If you build a PC, you can also decide which hardware you want to use to expand it in the future. If a component fails, it can be a time consuming task. If the board fails, you do not remove all the parts and send the motherboard back to the manufacturer. Sometimes it takes weeks before a replacement is sent. In the course Build your own PC, you can see step by step how to assemble a PC, builds and installs. Tip 6- Ready-klaarEen ready-to-use computer, for example Acer, Dell or HP is already pre-configured. You make a choice between the available models and configurations. The system is ready for use. A downside to a ready-to-use system, is that it is usually difficult to expand the system due to the special forms, or a shortage of space. Also, manufacturers often install unwanted software on the operating system. Tip 6- The advantage of a ready-made system is that you can choose from very beautiful models such as an all-in-one PC. At the time of writing, the number of computers pre-installed Windows 10 is roughly equal to the number of systems that have installed Windows 8 yet. Labels like "Windows 10-ready 'may be confusing, you should usually self yet to upgrade to Windows 10. Ask the seller or Windows 10 is already installed or that the system still needs to be upgraded. HardwareTip 7- Graphics card Windows 10 comes with DirectX 12. Are you going to build a new PC for games, make sure that the graphics card supports DirectX 12. Basal is explained DirectX is a set of pre-written program code which controls the communication with the hardware. A software developer can address that, so he needs to keep less on the hardware of the user. DirectX 12 brings with it many improvements, increasing performance increases significantly. It allows for a better control of the CPU and the GPU and DirectX 12 can address multiple GPUs from different manufacturers. For example, small tasks are processed by the GPU on the CPU and the individual card can do the heavy work. It is for the software developer, whether he uses it. Tip 7- With NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 and ATI Radeon R9 290x allows you to play the latest games with ease. Want to play the latest games at the highest quality and will use in the future Virtual Reality, we recommend a powerful graphics card. The current advice is at least an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or ATI Radeon R9 290x. Tip 8- Cooler and rammed processor align with the tasks for the PC. Do you use many programs simultaneously or do you play tough games, then a CPU with multiple cores us advice. Do you work with decent Excel sheets, you play a lot of online Java or Flash games or you often have many tabs open in your browser, then additional memory is also a necessity. With 8 or 16 GB you can fine feet. Tip 8- DDR4 memory is currently only the latest Intel CPUs Skylake. This year DDR4 memory has been introduced. This memory has to some significant improvements. So it is much more energy efficient: 1.2 V to 1.5 V DDR3. Due to the lower power consumption, the clock speed can be raised. New memory also needs a new processor architecture. The architecture of Intel's latest CPUs Skylake is designed so that with both DDR3 and DDR4 kanwerken. Do you want to expand your computer in the future, then the new processor Skylake prepared for this. Unfortunately, AMD has at the time of writing no processor that works with DDR4 memory. If you buy a ready-made system, it may be advantageous to opt for the previous generation. Tip 9- Storage for data storage is a hard disk fine, but for the operating system and the programs we propose that a hard disk can no longer of this time. Build your own PC, then it is a logical choice to choose an SSD. With a ready-made system often lacks the SSD in the standard configurations. Sometimes, is chosen for a hybrid disc (often referred to as SSHD's). Tip 9- Samsung SM951 M. 2 SSD achieves a read rate of up to 2150 MB / s and a write speed of 1500 MB / s. Although these SSD drives also have chips, you can not see this back in the operating system. The drive determines what data is stored on the chips. Because the performance gains of this is minimal, a full SSD remains the fastest choice. Traditional SATA connector is currently the most common and suffice just fine. The latest motherboards and laptops also include a so-called M 2 slot, which allows even greater speeds. M. 2 SSDs do not have the shape of a disk, but look more like a small PCI card. Tip 10- New aansluitingEen new computer also brings new connections with it, so too some old connections expire. Check which devices still fits on a new computer. Often it is possible to connect via the new older hardware connections. You can make a mouse with a USB 2. 0 port fine on a USB three. 0 connect port. There will be change in the coming years, because there is a new USB port on the go. Tip 10- The new Type-C-cable has at both ends and is reversible so that the same connector, there is no more above or below. The so-called Type-C terminal will replace a number of connections, such as traditional type-A (the connector in the computer), Type-B connector (connecting to peripheral devices such as a smartphone or printer) and Intel's mini display port connector. The USB connector C has many advantages over the old USB connections. He is smaller than the traditional A-socket, so laptops are no longer limited to the thickness of the USB port. Also, the connector is at both ends is the same, and it is reversible (there is no more above or below, and the peripheral equipment has the same input). Via an adapter, the old connection is still to be connected to the Type-C connector. In addition, most computers will be the time being provided with both the Type-A and Type-C connector. Tip 11- Monitor Windows 10 handles screens with high resolution. The operating system automatically asks if the items should be scaled so that they are easier to read. If necessary, Windows 10 can be increased to 500 percent. Would you buy a new high-resolution display, there is an important issue. Many manufacturers claim to be compatible with so-called "4K displays. In reality this is true, but sometimes they deliver the product with an HDMI 1. 4 terminal. Tip 11- Buy you have a 4K monitor, ensure good on the screen and your PC has an HDMI 2. 0 port. Via HDMI 1. 4 can be viewed fine websites and emails, but falls short when watching a movie or playing a game on this resolution. 1. 4 HDMI port can at a 4K resolution is about 24 frames per second and a color depth of 8 bit (16. 7 million) to implement. HDMI 2. 0 other hand, can transmit 60 fps and make a color depth of 68. 7 billion colors, a perceptible difference. So make sure the monitor and the computer have at least one HDMI 2. 0 connection. RandapparatuurTip 12- Hello Windows, Microsoft wants all years away from the insecure password system. Therefore, Windows 10 goes one step further than a PIN, password, image and fingerprint readers. Because you can login with your face. For the new feature does require a special 3D camera with Intel Real Sense technology. This camera has a depth sensor that detects faces and objects can be scanned. Tip 12- appear more and more computers with built-in 3D camera. During login will not be asked to enter something, but to look into the camera. Through this way a hacker can not sneak your password and see it as Microsoft is a lot safer. At the time of writing, there is no separate webcam with Intel Real Sense technology available. Well there are a number of all-in-one PCs and notebooks that have a 3D camera with Intel Real Sense technology. Which devices that can be found on the site of Intel. Tip 13- Tablet and telefoonTot far, Windows mobile devices have not really succeeded. Hopefully Windows 10 can image Windows Phone / Mobile little boost. To all Windows 10 Mobile is expected late this year still available. Exactly which devices can be upgraded to the new mobile version is not yet known. A selection Lumia smartphones that now runs Windows Phone 8. 1 runs, in each case, be eligible for an upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile. Tip 13- The Acer Jade Primo is a Pocket PC / smartphone with a full version of Windows 10. Tip 14- Stream Xbox OneJe do not always need an expensive video card to play the latest games on your PC. If you own an Xbox One, you can also stream to the Windows 10 machine these games. The controller of the Xbox One can simply connect via USB to your computer and you can get started. Have an xbox one and a PC running Windows 10, you can easily activate the feature. Tip 14- Windows 10, you can stream games xbox one of the xbox one to your PC and play them as well. Go to Settings on your Xbox and then select Preferences. Uncheck Stream game to allow other devices (beta) and choose from each SmartGlass device or only profiles that are logged into the Xbox. Connect the Xbox One controller to the PC and launch the Xbox app on your Windows 10 computer (do not confuse him with Xbox One SmartGlass). Select Connect and click on the name of the Xbox. To stream a game, click on Connected and Stream. It may be that you first log on to the xbox one before you can start the stream. The quality of the image, you can adjust the upper right of the window. Tip 15- Augmented reality virtual reality, augmented reality and holography appear to be on the point on the market. Microsoft is working with the pioneers in this field, so that the technique will work as well with Windows 10. Recently, Microsoft announced that it will collaborate with Oculus VR and HTC. The Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are two promising virtual reality headsets that the first quarter of 2016 will be released. Microsoft is also working on a new gadget that goes a lot further than VR. Tip 15- The HoloLens transform your living room into a playground. The HoloLens like Microsoft glasses is called, has a built-in computer to work seamlessly with Windows 10. It is augumented reality used in combination with holograms. Augumented reality ensures that the holographic objects are placed in your immediate vicinity. Place a giant television on your wall or play Minecraft on your dining table. The objects you can move with your hands or modify. Microsoft did with Windows 10 well prepared for the future and listened carefully to the user. Now find a suitable PC! This article is brought to you by Total Computer. nl