The school season has arrived. Based on my previous experience, students generally do not buy a computer immediately when they start college. It seems they prefer to observe the environment before making a decision. The best time to purchase a computer is usually during the second half of the first semester after the New Year. This buying guide is designed to help everyone understand how to choose the right computer, as getting the right CPU can determine a significant portion of your decision.
Choosing a computer generally revolves around two factors: the first is your needs, meaning what you plan to use it for. Whether it’s for academic software, gaming, or simply to complement your newly purchased bag worth over 40,000 yuan, all these can be considered your needs.
Balancing performance and price
The second factor is the price. “Discussing performance without considering price is nonsensical.” Regardless of your needs, you should choose a suitable computer based on your budget; otherwise, it would be detached from reality.
A little tip for everyone: when asking someone to recommend a computer, be sure to clearly state these two requirements. This way, they can help you find the most suitable computer.
—1—
Daily Use for Girls
March 7th is “Girls’ Day” and March 8th is “Queen’s Day”. From a ladies-first perspective, let’s first analyze what kind of CPU girls should choose for daily use.
From my small survey, the needs of female friends around me are mainly focused on Office software and watching dramas. These tasks basically require the most basic smooth operation of a computer, so considering entry-level CPU products is sufficient. Intel Core i3 series and AMD Ryzen 3 series are good options.
Intel Core i3-7100
Pair it with a pink mini case and an ITX mini motherboard, the whole mini setup can easily fit in the corner of a girl’s desk.
Pink mini case
Of course, it’s not just about desktop platforms; some students may prioritize portability. Notebook products that are entry-level configurations are also suitable, as they offer good portability and battery life while meeting performance needs.
—2—
Surveying, Engineering Drawing, etc.
Surveying and engineering drawing do require a decent CPU, but most projects we encounter in college are small, so the computer configuration requirements aren’t very high. To ensure stability, we should choose mainstream processors, such as Intel’s Core i5 series and AMD Ryzen 5 series, which can guarantee smooth and stable operation.
Drawing
Regarding other components, these software don’t require high-end graphics cards, but I still recommend choosing entry-level dedicated graphics cards like GTX 1050Ti or RX 460, as these can ensure smooth operation without lagging or crashing when using these software.
AMD Ryzen 5 1600
If portability is a consideration, you can also opt for a regular laptop. Although the thickness, weight, and battery life may not be as good as ultrabooks, the advantage lies in stronger processor and graphics card performance. A laptop priced around 5,000 yuan can easily meet the surveying and engineering drawing needs in college, and later on, for larger projects, you can switch to a high-performance desktop.
—3—
PS Design, Post-Rendering, etc.
PS design and post-rendering are very resource-intensive tasks. If your major is related to these fields, you need to consider CPU performance carefully. A multi-core high-end processor is essential, along with ample memory for support.
PS
For processors, it is recommended to invest in high-end Intel Core i7 series and AMD Ryzen 7 series, which have more cores and provide higher clock speeds, greatly aiding in PS and video rendering. If the budget is limited, you can also consider high-end models of i5 and Ryzen 5 series, which can also provide good support.
Intel Core i7-8700K
The graphics card also cannot be neglected; a high-performance graphics card will make your visuals smoother.
As mentioned earlier, students generally won’t encounter particularly large projects, so we can still compromise on budget and choose mid-range products. Although they may not fully meet all demands, they can handle smaller projects without issues.
—4—
Online Gaming
After discussing study, we also need some entertainment (I know that’s your main purpose). Online gaming currently has a large audience, including popular esports games that mostly have average graphics card requirements; a 1060-level graphics card can handle it.
LOL
To play smoothly, you also need processor support. The core count isn’t very important here, but it must be a newer product with strong single-core performance, such as Intel Core’s K series or AMD Ryzen products with an X suffix, which have higher clock speeds.
AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
Online games do not have high requirements for processor performance, so a high CPU with a low-end graphics card can still provide a great gaming experience. Many gaming laptops can meet this demand; if assembling a desktop isn’t feasible, consider choosing a laptop.
—5—
Single-Player Games
The popularity of the Steam platform has brought high-quality single-player games closer to players, and college students are a major gaming demographic. Many friends build PCs just to enjoy single-player masterpieces. Single-player games generally require “high graphics card and mid CPU”, meaning a strong graphics card is needed for support, while CPU requirements are lower, and mainstream products are sufficient.
“PUBG”
To ensure smooth gameplay, it is recommended to choose mid-range CPUs like Intel Core i5-8400/i5-8500. The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X and Ryzen 5 1600X also perform excellently and are worth considering, with relatively lower prices.
Intel Core i5-8400
When it comes to graphics cards, don’t hold back; a GTX 1070 or higher can ensure that most single-player games run smoothly at 1080p or even 2K resolution. If you plan to play “PUBG”, this setup will meet your needs.
Considering that some students may use 4K monitors or high-refresh-rate gaming monitors, the graphics card should also be upgraded accordingly, with GTX 1080 or GTX 1080Ti being more suitable for you.
—END—
