11 Sep How New Computer Hardware Can Improve Your Productivity
Trying to get stuff done on an outdated computer is one of work’s greatest frustrations. You’re in the zone and moving fast, but your computer is slowing you down. The system lags, programs freeze, everything is just crawling.
Whether you’re in the office or working from home, you need your computer equipment to be able to handle the rigors of your daily work. If it can’t, it won’t be long before you’re literally throwing it all out the window. Trust us—we’ve been there.
If you’re looking to improve your computer hardware, we put together this handy little guide to help you get exactly what you need. Check it out!
New Tower
Upgrading the computer tower will instantly improve your computing situation. Over time the computer components—its hard drive, motherboard, CPU and RAM modules—degrade in performance and become outdated as new tech emerges.
You can expect a good computer to last anywhere from 3 to 8 years depending how much you use it and how hard you ride it. Chances are once you hit the 5-year mark, you’ll start to notice a decline in performance. Eventually you’ll run it into the ground.
If you’re looking to replace your computer tower, you’ll be happy to know you don’t need to spring for the latest and greatest machines out there. Most office work will run just fine on midrange computers.
Minimum Specifications
You’ll find plenty of desktop and laptop computers that meet your needs without breaking the bank. Make sure whatever you’re buying has these minimum specifications:
| Processor | 8th or 9th Gen Intel Core i5, i7 or i9 Processor (CPU) |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows 10Macintosh OS X 10.14.x “Mojave.” |
| Memory | 8–16GB RAM |
| Storage | >240GB solid-state drive |
| Video/graphics | Integrated or discrete graphics processor capable of HD resolution (1366×768) or better (1920×1080). |
| Monitor | For laptop: 13”–17”For desktop: 19”–24” widescreen flat-panel display |
| Network | 802.11ac WiFi capability |
The cost for a computer with these specs is pretty predictable:
- A laptop will cost you about $800
- A desktop will cost you about $600
Once you’re working with a computer that’s capable of handling modern software, you’ll be blown away at how much faster and easier everything is.
No longer will you be held back by your outdated machine, but rather you’ll soar upon its back to new levels of productivity!
Large or Multiple Monitors
A good monitor situation is a blessing. When you’re navigating around multiple programs and browsers throughout your day, you want enough space to view multiple windows at once or cluster them together.
Small screens are great for portability, but they’re not the best to be working full-time on. Once you upgrade to a larger widescreen monitor it’s tough to go back—you just have so much room!
Yet another step up is having dual or multiple monitors. Both Windows and Mac computers allow you to operate across 2 different monitors, so you can move windows around and across screens. You can keep your email and chats open in one window, a web browser open in another, and bounce around as you need.
If you use a laptop for your main computer, it’s not a bad idea to have a 2nd monitor at your desk or workstation. You can plug in with an HDMI cable and have the benefits of dual screens with the portability of a laptop.
Having more room to work boosts your productivity by quite a bit without breaking the bank. You can get a decent flatscreen display for $100–$200.
Keyboard & Mouse
You might think peripherals like a keyboard or mouse might not make a big difference in productivity, but you’d be surprised! A good keyboard and mouse can go a long way towards making you more comfortable while you work, which helps you get more done.
Keyboards are pretty straightforward, but ergonomic designs help prevent typing injuries like carpal tunnel and are easier on those already suffering from hand and wrist injuries.
Bluetooth or wired numeric keypads are also a great idea for laptop users who work with numbers. Whether at your desk or on the go, they’re small and handy to have.
A mouse is another area where splurging a little can get your surprising results. A nice, comfortable mouse with a scroll-wheel and programmable auxiliary buttons will make your browsing experience easier and more comfortable.
Internet Modem & WiFi Router
High-speed internet is a necessary utility at this point. Not only do you need high speeds, but you need reliability, too. The best way to consistently get both is get an internet modem and WiFI router that fit your needs.
Your modem is responsible for transforming digital information into analog signals that can be sent back and forth over the internet cables. Your WiFi router, on the other hand, handles broadcasting the WiFi signal that your wireless devices connect to.
A good modem will give you enough bandwidth and internet speed to service dozens of devices if not more, and a good router will be able to send out a strong signal to a larger area without signal loss. Both of these factors will dramatically improve your internet experience. Prices for these components vary dramatically depending on home-office networking versus business networking:
- For home networks, you can get a good modem and router for under $100 each, or get a combo unit for under $200.
- For business solutions, you’ll be looking at anywhere from $200 to thousands of dollars, depending on your needs.
The internet drives nearly everything we do these days, so don’t let a bad connection or low speeds slow you down.
CompuCorp Is Here to Help
CompuCorp is the premier local IT Managed Services provider in Central Ohio. We can help you get the equipment you need and get you set up and running at full speed in no time.
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