PC monitors: Buying a new PC Audio and video on your PC
PC graphics card
A PC graphics card deals with displaying the image on the monitor. There are two main types in desktop PCs – onboard (or integrated) or separate.
An integrated graphics card is built in to the motherboard – the main circuit board of a PC, and they’ll often share some of the main processor’s computing power. This design is cheaper, but at the cost of performance – they can struggle to play games smoothly, and it can be difficult to upgrade the graphics capability at a later date.
A separate graphics card fits into a slot on the motherboard and has more of its own computing power. This means that you’ll get better graphics performance, and that you can upgrade your PC’s performance by replacing the card with a more powerful one.
If you want to play the latest games in all their glory, check that your graphics card is fully Windows 7 compatible, and that it supports DirectX 11, Microsoft’s latest graphics techonology.
Computer monitor
You’ll be spending a lot of time looking at your monitor, so make the right choice.
Most computers are supplied with a monitor, but some budget models aren’t. And many companies offer the option of buying without a monitor if you dig through the options – handy if you’re happy with your existing monitor, for instance.
Bigger monitors are more expensive - but they look great – it’s worth considering a 21-inch display, or even bigger, if you have the space and will be watching movies or playing games.
However, small monitors will do the job if you’re short of cash or space, especially if you’re planning to carry out only basic tasks such as checking email or surfing the web.
You might also want to consider displaying your computer’s output via your TV. Modern flatscreen TVs often do a very good job – check our TV reviews for more information.
Older monitors used a connection called VGA. You’ll still sometimes find this, but DVI or HDMI (especially on flatscreen TVs) are now widespread.
When buying a new PC, check out our monitors review for the best models to buy.
And, if you want to see pictures and video even more clearly, check out our reviews of photo-editing and video-editing software.
PC sound
Most PCs will have a soundcard – but this doesn’t mean that the PC can play sound straight out of the box, you’ll probably need to add speakers. Basic stereo desktop PC speakers can cost just a few pounds – but don’t expect perfect sound quality.
More expensive speakers will give better sound quality, of course – or you can use an existing stereo system to play sound. This can be a great way of listening to your music collection if you use services such as iTunes, for instance.
You may also want to think about investing in a surround-sound system. These use multiple speakers (typically five or seven) that you position around you, together with a low-frequency subwoofer that sits beneath the desk.
This can give a very immersive sound experience when watching movies or playing games, but check that your PC’s soundcard supports surround sound.
Headphones can also offer a useful way of listening to high-quality sound – normal headphones will work fine, but you can also buy dedicated PC headphones that connect to your PC via a USB socket.
A printer to go with your PC
If you want to find out about buying a printer to go with your new PC, read our guide on how to buy the best printer and our reviews of printers. We also review ink cartridges.
