Buying a Computer for Graphic Design

Determine whether you want a Mac or a PC. The current Macs will work with Windows software, as well as most other software on the market, but graphic design software is now just as available for a PC as it is for a Mac. In general, more graphic designers prefer Macs and believe the color calibration and speed is a bit better; however, if the comfort zone is working in a PC environment, it will be more than sufficient for graphic design.

Decide where you want to shop. If work needs to be done immediately, the store is your answer, including major electronics stores such as Best Buy and Radio Shack. Computers can also be purchased at office supply stores (Staples and OfficeMax), department stores (Sears and JC Penney) and at company-specific outlets (Apple, Dell and HP). If you have a little bit of time before the computer is needed, there are some great buys online. All of the above stores have online availability, often with specials and extra inventory that brick-and-mortar stores don't have. You can also use sites like MySimon.com and Buy.com to compare the prices of multiple sites at once.

Choose a monitor. Graphic design is all about how something looks, so it needs to start by looking correct on the screen. The monitor--whether it is on a laptop or a desktop--needs to be just right. For working with large documents, make sure the monitor is big enough to show the document on the screen. In general, a monitor of at least 19 inches is appropriate. Monitors are available in LCD (liquid crystal display) or CRT (cathode ray tube). LCD monitors tend to give sharper pictures and be easier on eyes, causing less strain. CRT monitors can have more accurate color displays. It is important for graphic designers to get a newer monitor that will have better technology, so spend as much as your budget will allow.

Think about what disk drives you want your computer to have. There are a number of considerations for the hard drive when buying a computer for graphic design. A larger size drive (300 to 500 GB) is important for storing the large files created in graphics programs. An external hard drive is a great way to back up the files. To be able to transfer files to clients, a DVD drive is necessary. One with a DVD-RW will allow you to write files onto the disk and write over them again if you wish to change or erase. A number (like 12x) will be shown with the drive. The higher the number, the better the speed of the DVD. Look for one of at least 16x for graphic design.

Pick a processor. The computer's processor will control how fast it operates. Graphic design will require speed. There are new processors coming out all the time to increase the speed and efficiency of computers. Some of the more popular ones to look for are the Intel Atom or Core2duo and AMD Phenom.

Buy a graphics card. For the average consumer, a graphics card is a nice addition, but for the professional it is a necessity. When purchasing a computer for graphic design, look for a graphics card of at least 256MB.

Obtain the right software. Software for graphic design can cost as much as the computer with programs like Adobe Photoshop and Quark nearing $1,000. A good graphic design program that is popularly used (like the aforementioned) is a necessity if you are running a business in that field. Costs can be cut, though, by starting with purchasing the less advanced versions, like Photoshop Elements. It will suffice for entry-level graphic designers as much as the higher-priced versions. For PDFs (a popular format in graphic design), Adobe Acrobat is available in a free version for viewing and then in a paid version for editing.