How to choose a candy bar

Computers

Monoblock – a computer in which all components of the system unit (motherboard, processor, hard drive, etc.) are built directly into the monitor.

How to choose a computer monoblock

How to choose a candy bar: technical characteristics worth paying attention to

Monoblocks are quite difficult to upgrade. Therefore, when choosing such a computer, the technical characteristics should be given close attention. The most important are:

  1. Diagonal, resolution and other parameters of the monitor;

  2. CPU;

  3. RAM;

  4. Permanent memory;

  5. Video card;

  6. Manufacturer;

The operating system installed is also important, but not decisive. Because even on monoblocks Apple you can install a familiar environment like Windows or some open OS based on Linux.

Monitor parameters

monitor resolution

The vast majority of monoblocks are equipped with monitors that have a diagonal of 19 to 27 inches. This parameter primarily determines the usability of computers and depends on the purpose for which the device is intended. So, for an office or company a small candy bar with a diagonal of about 19 inches is suitable. But for watching videos, movies, editing images, you should buy a model with a 27-inch screen.

Also pay attention to the screen resolution. Its optimal value depends on two parameters – the diagonal of the display and the planned scenario of using the computer. Most suitable values:

  1. For small office monoblocks – Full HD (1920 × 1080 pixels);

  2. For home monoblocks on which you plan to watch movies and videos – 2K (2560 × 1440 pixels);

  3. For monoblocks designed for image editing, video editing, as well as for games – the more the better. Up to 5120 × 2880 pixels).

Some all-in-one models are equipped with a touch screen. This is more of a welcome addition than a required feature. But, nevertheless, if you plan to use a candy bar for editing images, it is advisable to choose a model with a touch screen and support for pen input.

CPU

tablet processor

Since it is quite difficult to replace the processor in monoblocks, when buying such a device, you should make sure that the chip fully meets the requirements. Its practicality is influenced by the following characteristics:

  1. Number of cores and embedded technologies;

  2. Clock frequency;

  3. Generation.

But it is worth remembering that the number of cores and the clock frequency of the processor are rather vague concepts. So, quad-core chips of the Intel Core i5 family show lower performance than quad-core i7 chips with the same clock speed – but more than Pentium with the same characteristics. The performance hierarchy is as follows (from lowest to highest):

  1. Intel Celeron:

  2. Intel Pentium;

  3. Intel Core i3;

  4. Intel Core i5;

  5. Intel Core i7.

  6. For AMD, similarly:

  7. AMD Athlon;

  8. AMD Phenom;

  9. AMD FX;

  10. AMD Ryzen.

But the more powerful the processor, the greater its heat dissipation. And in a compact monoblock case, it is difficult to pack a powerful cooling system. Therefore, it is worth choosing a processor, guided by the principle of 'reasonable sufficiency'.

For office and simple home use, the Intel Celeron, Intel Pentium and AMD Athlon processors are enough. To watch videos – Intel Core i3 and AMD Phenom or AMD FX. For editing videos, images, for games – top families.

Much more important for determining the performance of a processor is its generation. The most recent models are the fastest. For 2017, the most relevant generations of processors: for Intel – the seventh; for AMD – sixteenth.

RAM size

RAM size

The performance of the monoblock depends on the amount of RAM when multitasking, as well as the execution of applications that are processed in multiple threads or cache data (web browsing, for example). Therefore, the more it is, the better. But, if we proceed from the principle of reasonable sufficiency, then:

  1. For home with simple use or office work, 2 GB of RAM is enough;

  2. For comfortable use during everyday work, 4 GB is suitable;

  3. To edit a photo, you need at least 8 GB;

  4. For video editing or gaming – 16 GB.

Many monoblock models support expanding the amount of RAM by replacing the strap or installing an additional one. Therefore, after making sure that such an upgrade is possible, you can purchase an inexpensive computer, and if necessary, equip it with another RAM card.

Persistent memory

HDD

All data in the all-in-one, as well as the operating system, is stored on the hard drive. Therefore, its volume must meet the requirements of the user. So, models with a hard drive of 200 GB or less are suitable only for not very active home use – in addition to the operating system, they can accommodate several high-quality films and a couple of modern games.

The optimal hard disk space is 320 GB or more.

Hard drives differ not only in size, but also in type:

  1. Flash drives – are found only in the cheapest monoblocks, they are distinguished by a low price and often small volume. But at the same time they provide good system performance (up to several seconds for a reboot);

  2. HDDs are classic magnetic drives. They differ in low cost per gigabyte and high reliability when used in monoblocks. However, they have a relatively low operating speed due to the long response time;

  3. SSDs are modern high-speed storage devices. They do not need defragmentation, so they maintain performance throughout the entire period of operation. However, they have a limited number of rewriting cycles and are relatively expensive.

A good option would be to use a monoblock with two hard drives – an SSD for the operating system and an HDD for storing user files. But not all models of such computers offer such functionality.

Video card

Which video card manufacturer is better

A video card in computers is designed to work with graphics. Therefore, it is obvious that for monoblocks, it is only necessary if the computer is planned to be used for editing graphics, video or for games.

An integrated video card is enough for watching videos, editing documents, surfing the web or even undemanding games.

The performance of a discrete video card is determined by its model and the amount of built-in video memory. It is worth considering that all-in-ones use a mobile video card, that is, its performance in any case will be less than a desktop one.

Manufacturer

monoblock manufacturers

Among the manufacturers of monoblocks the following companies can be distinguished:

  1. Apple – Launches a series of iMac all-in-ones designed specifically for designers. They are equipped with a proprietary high-resolution display and excellent color reproduction;

  2. Microsoft – produces only one monoblock Surface Studio. It is also intended for designers and artists, as it features a display with a huge resolution and a custom 3: 2 aspect ratio;

  3. Lenovo – mainly produces budget monoblocks for home or office;

  4. Acer – produces both budget and highly productive monoblocks. For example, it has solutions specifically for gamers.

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In the following articles, our experts will tell you how to choose an MFP for home and office, and the secrets of choosing a netbook for high-quality web surfing.


Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.

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