What computer should I buy?

While there isn’t a “one size fits all” answer, the following specifications are suitable for typical home and office use. If you are a business we can order, setup and install computers for you. They include up to a 5 year warranty and we can migrate data and settings from old devices. Please contact us for more information.

The short version

Processor – Intel
Look for a Core Ultra 5 or Ultra 7 model. Example models would be Ultra 5 225 or 235H and Ultra 7 265 or 258V.
Ultra 9 series such as Ultra 9 285K are more powerful but you may not notice the difference depending on workload.
Older processors (but generally still capable for general use) would be an i5-14xxx or i7-14xxx; do not purchase unless at a lower price.
Laptop processors can get confusing. Generally speaking, the “U” at the end means a thinner laptop that is more efficient and has better battery life. “V” generally means a premium thin/light laptop with strong battery and a moderate step up in graphics. “H” is for high performance laptops that may sacrifice battery and size for performance.

Processor – AMD
Look for Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 – model number should start with a 9. Examples would include Ryzen 5 9600X or Ryzen 7 9700X.
Look for Ryzen AI 300 series or newer in a laptop.

Memory
16 gigabytes (GB) of RAM

Disk drive/space
Solid state drive, 500 gigabytes capacity

Monitor / Laptop screen
Resolution of 1920×1080 or greater; consider a higher number to fit more content on the screen

Warranty / Support
3 year manufacturer warranty with onsite support; this means that parts are replaced by a certified technician that comes to you. Consider adding Accidental Damage protection for laptops to protect against spills and drops. This warranty should come directly from the manufacturer and not a third party.

Other Information

Memory (also called RAM) recommendation: 16 gigabytes (GB) or more

Memory/RAM is not how much data the computer can store – it is most like how many things you can have open at once without slowing done.

Hard drive/storage recommendation: Solid state,500 gigabyte (GB) or more

A “solid state” (or SSD) hard drive provides the best performance. Budget computers may have a mechanical drive rather than solid state and should be avoided.

Look for “solid state”, “solid state drive” or “SSD” that is 500 GB or larger.

An example of a non-recommended hard drive would be: 3.5″ 1TB 7200 RPM drive.

Conclusion

These specifications will help you pick out a machine that should last for many years.Please contact us if you would like a quote on a computer for your business.

This article was last updated on May 1, 2026 and is subject to change. We recommend you perform your own research before making any purchase.