10/01/2026
Aloha Kakou š¤š¾,
Shopping for a new computer? Donāt just grab the cheapest one you can find.
You donāt need to buy the most expensive computer on the shelf, but going too cheap can leave you with something that already feels slow ā and may need replacing much sooner.
Hereās a simple baseline we recommend when shopping for a new everyday computer:
ā¢ Processor: 8 cores or more ā The processor is basically the ābrainā of the computer. More cores help it handle multiple things at once. Just remember that the processor model and generation matter too ā not all 8-core CPUs perform the same.
ā¢ RAM: 16 GB minimum ā Think of RAM like your computerās workspace. The more workspace it has, the more browser tabs, programs, documents, video calls, and other things it can keep open without slowing down. For most people today, 16 GB is a good minimum. Heavier users may want 32 GB.
ā¢ Storage: Make sure it has an SSD ā Preferably an NVMe SSD on a new computer.
Whatās the difference between an SSD and HDD?
A traditional HDD (Hard Disk Drive) has a physical spinning disk and moving parts inside. They can still be useful when you need a lot of inexpensive storage, such as backups, but theyāre much slower when used as the computerās main drive.
An SSD (Solid-State Drive) has no spinning disk. It can start Windows or macOS much faster, open programs quicker, transfer files faster, runs silently, and handles bumps better because there are no moving parts.
For a computer youāre going to use every day, we strongly recommend an SSD as the main drive.
Spending a little more on the right specs now can give you a much smoother computer and potentially several more useful years out of it.
Not sure if a computer youāre looking at is a good deal? Send JP Tech the specs before you buy it and what you'll be using it for and weāll help you take a look, free of charge.
JP Tech ā Local Tech Support from MolokaŹ»i, Built with Aloha.
