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Delve into the world of desktops and find the computer that'll meet your needs.
| Getting Started |
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Five simple steps will turn you into a savvy shopper:
- Select an Operating System: First choose whether you want a Windows-based Desktop PC or an Apple Desktop that runs a version of the Mac operating system. You should stick with the operating system you feel most comfortable using. Some desktop PCs on eBay come with an operating system installed and some don't. If you want to be able to plug in your computer and use it right away, make sure it has an installed OS.
- Nail Down Your Equipment Needs: Do you need a box or a complete system? If you only want to upgrade your computer, buy a box in PC tower or desktop form. If you need a monitor (traditional CRT or flat-panel LCD), speakers, keyboard, and mouse, buy a complete system. Some sellers will also include a printer, scanner, or memory card reader. All-in-one systems that integrate computer hardware, including drives, into the monitor are also available.
- Decide If You Need a Brand Name Desktop: Buying a computer from a well-known company like Dell, Sony, HP, or Gateway can give you piece of mind because you know the company's name and reputation. However, desktop PC custom/whitebox computers cost less and have comparable hardware and system configurations.
- Determine How You Want to Use Your Desktop: People who only want to work in Microsoft Office applications have drastically different computing needs than people who want to play 3D games or edit video. Before you start to shop, consider how you plan to use your computer. It should meet your personal needs as well as the system requirements set by your Internet Service Provider. If you get confused by any terms, visit the Computers & Networking Buying Guide Glossary.
- Discover the Desktop of Your Dreams: Once you know what you want, use eBay's Finders and Keywords to narrow down item listings.
| System Requirements |
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Below you'll find some suggested processor, memory (RAM), and hard drive capacity specs to use as a starting point when you shop on eBay.
Basic Home PC: You want to work in word-processing and spreadsheet applications, surf the Net, email, perform basic photo editing tasks, and transfer data to and from gadgets such as your MP3 player and digital camera.
Home Office: You want to bring your work home with you.
3D Gaming Machine: You want hot 3D-gaming action on your desktop and online.
Multimedia Powerhouse: You want to turn your computer into a digital darkroom, sound studio, or video production house.
| Compare Processors |
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The processor is your computer's nerve center. Sellers provide information about the type of processor a computer contains and its speed in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). When you shop, here's how to compare them.
- Speed: 1GHz processors are faster than 1MHz processors. Apple G5 processors come in higher speeds than G4 and G3 processors. Faster processors offer better system performance and usually cost more than slower processors.
- Intel & AMD: Intel and AMD use different speed naming conventions for their processors. Intel uses processor speed while AMD compares its CPUs to their Intel counterparts. When you see a 2.8 GHz Pentium processor, know that it's comparable to an AMD 2800+ processor. Higher numbers offer better performance.
- Celeron & Pentium: Intel makes two lines of processors: Celeron and Pentium. Celeron is an inexpensive, no-frills alternative to Pentium processors. You trade off some speed for a lower price.
- Hyperthreading (HT): Hyperthreading (HT), an Intel technology, lets processors in the 3GHz and faster range work on two separate threads of data at the same time. Your software needs to be optimized for hyperthreading in order to see improved performance. More software will support the technology in the next few years.
- Dual Processors: Some computers contain two processors that can take turns working with data. You will only see improved performance if the software you run is optimized for dual processing.
| Common Components |
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Desktops are only as good as the parts that come inside them. When looking at these parts, also called components, know that:
- 1GB equals 1024MB.
- 1GHz is faster than 1MHz.
- Faster processors offer faster performance.
- As you increase RAM, program performance improves.
- You can store more files on larger hard drives.
Make Sure You Have Enough Memory (RAM)
Random Access Memory (RAM) stores data in a temporary holding area so that your desktop doesn't have to access slower hard drive memory when programs request information. Programs, including operating systems, need a certain amount of RAM to run, with more RAM providing better performance. For example, Windows XP requires at least 128MB RAM to run according to Microsoft. Most people find the number closer to 256MB and see even better performance with 512MB RAM, 1GB RAM, or more.
Select Your Hard Drive Size
A computer's hard drive stores all your programs and files. A drive with a higher storage capacity (measured in GB) lets you save more data than a drive with a lower storage capacity. You only need 20GB to 40GB of hard drive space if you only plan to store your operating system, programs, documents, and a few photos. You'll want at least 80GB if you plan to save a lot of large files such as high-resolution images, movies, or your entire music collection. Additional external hard drives also work well for data backup purposes and for storing large files.
Back Up With a CD or DVD Burner
CD and DVD burners allow you to back up your data, create your own music CDs, or burn your home videos to DVD.
- CD-R: Write to CD-R media and create your own audio CDs. You can only burn and finalize a CD-R once.
- CD-RW: Back up your data to a re-writable CD-RW.
- DVD+RW/-RW: A DVD can hold more data than a CD, making it a great backup data storage option. A combination DVD+RW/-RW burner can write to the popular DVD+RW and DVD-RW media formats.
- Combo Drives: Combo drives can read or write to two media formats. They may also include a read-only media format such as CD-ROM (to read CDs) or DVD-ROM (to play DVD movies and read CD-RWs).
Connect to Your Network
In order to connect to a home network or broadband Internet service, you'll need a 10/100 Network Interface Card (NIC), which comes standard on many PCs. If you want to set up a wired or wireless home network, read eBay's Networking Buying Guide.
Interact With Your Favorite Gadgets
Digital cameras, MP3 players such as the iPod, video cameras, and other gadgets transfer data to and from your computer over a high-speed USB 2.0 or FireWire (also called IEEE 1394) connection. Many also work over slower USB 1.1 connections.
Get Great Graphics and Sound
Gamers and multimedia enthusiasts will want one of the latest video cards and sound cards. They process video and audio, freeing up memory for other system tasks. You may also need separate cards if you buy an older PC that does not have a motherboard with onboard sound and video processing.
Notes on Upgrading
Desktop owners can easily replace older components or install new components to improve performance and add functionality. For example:
If you plan to upgrade components, ask the seller to provide you with a manual for the desktop. The manual specifies which hardware the computer's motherboard supports.
| Windows Operating System |
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Microsoft currently offers three versions of its Windows operating system for home and home office use:
- Windows XP Home: The clean and simple interface works well for most home users and offers more stability than previous versions of the Windows OS.
- Windows XP Media Center Edition: If you want to connect your computer to your TV, or use the computer as a media hub, buy a Media Center PC running Windows Media Center edition.
- Windows XP Professional: Designed for business users, Windows XP Professional provides extra support for networking. It also includes a Remote Desktop feature that allows you to access the computer over the Internet.
You will also find computers that run older versions of Windows on eBay, including Windows 95, 98, ME, and 2000.
| Apple Computers/ Mac OS |
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The latest Apple desktops, popular in homes and schools as well as video and graphics production environments, run the Mac OS X Panther operating system (also known as OS X version 10.3). Different Apple desktops work best for different people. When shopping decide if you want a basic home computer, a multimedia computer, or an all-in-one computer that has computer components and drives built into the monitor. All support Ethernet networking, FireWire, and USB 2.0.
PowerMac Packs a Punch
PowerMac G5 has all the features multimedia enthusiasts and design pros need to create stellar audio and high-end graphics and video, including a 64MB NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra or 128MB ATI Radeon 9600 XT graphics card.
Benefits of Buying an iMac G5
The iMac all-in-one offers a sleek look and the higher-end model offers comparable performance to a low-end PowerMac G5. It includes a widescreen LCD display and 64MB NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra graphics card.
Elect to Buy an eMac
The eMac all-in-one offers enough computing power to make young students and people who want a basic computer happy. You'll be able to use productivity software such as Microsoft Office, browse websites, and email your friends and family. The eMac's CRT display takes up more desk space than the LCD on an iMac. It also weighs more than Apple's other all-in-one, which can increase shipping costs.
Meet Mac Mini
Home users who want an entry-level Mac and don't need to burn DVDs, may want a Mac Mini. The diminutive computer stands only 2" tall and measures 6.5"x6.5", yet still has enough power to go online |
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Get More Memory
Many Apple desktops have more RAM than the standard configuration. For the best performance, select a desktop with at least 512MB RAM.
Cool Features & Software
Apple desktops include an email client (Mail), calendar program (iCal), video-conferencing software (iChat), and most come with iLife '05, a software suite that includes:
- iPhoto: Image-editing software.
- iMovie: Video editing software.
- iDVD: DVD mastering and burning software.
- iTunes: Digital music management software.
- GarageBand: Sound editing software.
Some may also include additional features and software to enhance your computing experience.
- Bluetooth: Let your Bluetooth-enabled gadgets wirelessly share information with your computer from up to 30 feet away.
- AirPort Extreme Card: Place your computer anywhere you want and access the Internet over your wireless network.
- Cinema Display: Apple's line of 20, 23, and 30-inch LCD monitors look great on your desk and offer a large screen for people who work on high-end graphics and video.
- iWork '05: Create multimedia presentations with Keynote or use the Pages word processor to design layouts that look ready for print.
- Microsoft Office 2004: Yes, Microsoft's suite of productivity applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, is available for the Mac OS. Buy it if you send a lot of documents and spreadsheets to colleagues or if you use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint at school.
Buying a Retired Apple Desktop
Although recent Macs feature G5 and G4 processors, you'll also see Apple desktops with older G3 processors on eBay. If you decide to go with an older processor, make sure it meets the system requirements of the software you want to run and meets the minimum requirements set by your Internet Service Provider. For example, to run iDVD 5, you need a 733 MHz (or faster) G4. Sellers will include minimum system requirements for Apple, Macintosh software in item listings. If you have further questions, click the "Ask Seller a Question" link under the seller's profile.
| How to Find Desktops on eBay |
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 Now that you know exactly what you want, go to the Computers & Networking portal and click Desktop PCs or Apple Desktops.
- Use Product Finders: If you clicked into desktop PC listings, you'll see the PC Desktops Finder on the left side of your screen. If you clicked into Apple desktops listings, you'll see the Apple Desktops Finder on the left side of your screen. Use the drop-down menus to select your system preferences.
- Search Keywords: Type a term into the search box or Product Finder keywords box and eBay will uncover listings for items containing the term in their titles. Check "Search title and descriptions" to expand your search.
- Visit an eBay Store: Visit eBay Stores to find items available for immediate purchase from favorite eBay sellers.
If you have trouble uncovering a hard-to-find item, create a post on Want It Now and tell millions of sellers exactly what you want or Save Your Search and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.
| Buy With Confidence |
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Take a couple of seconds to review the item you want to buy and research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.
Know Your Purchase 
- Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.
- Is the item you want still under warranty? If so, what are the terms? If you want more warranty information from a seller, ask by clicking the seller's "Ask seller a question" link under a seller's profile.
Know Your Seller
- What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?
- What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?
- Does the seller have a return policy? Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?
Buyer Protection
- PayPal Buyer Protection: In the unlikely event that something goes wrong, PayPal is there for you. Learn about PayPal Buyer Protection and how your purchases can be covered up to $1,000.
- eBay Security & Resolution Center: If a problem arises in your transaction, eBay can help you solve it quickly and efficiently. Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn more about eBay's resolution tools.
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Must use Buy It Now and PayPal.
