Whether you’re a first time buyer or upgrading an existing system, there are a few things you need to consider before pulling out your plastic.

First and most importantly, figure out your requirements. If you’re replacing an older computer, you’ll need to decide what you can keep and what should be repurchased. For example, maybe your PC is slow or unable to handle new software, but your monitor works just fine. It’s not always necessary to start from scratch, so tally up what you would like to upgrade and what you’d be satisfied with keeping.

Next, think about how you want to use your PC. If you’re primarily going to be using your computer for drafting emails and conducting your online banking, you can probably make do with a fairly basic system. However, if you’re planning on playing visually intense games, you’ll need plenty of memory, a high-performance graphics card and a fast processor. By the same token, if you want to use your PC to play movies, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got a DVD player and a quality sound solution.

Here are a few more things to consider before making a purchase.