In general, the larger the screen size, the more expensive the monitor will be. Plan for space. A 21 monitor can be wonderful, but there isn t much room for it in a cramped residence hall. Even 19 monitors can be difficult to fit. University Computing Support recommends a 17 monitor for use in a residence hall, although other monitor sizes will work.
Video cards are an important consideration.
Almost any video card is good for basic word processing, but a 16MB card capable of 3D rendering is a necessity for most gaming. Choose your video card based on your computing needs. When buying a modem, keep in mind that, although WinModems may be less expensive, they also use software to emulate a full-fledged modem. This means that what most modems do with the actual modem hardware, WinModems use software to do. This forces your CPU to use resources and can slow your machine down.