| What to look for when purchasing a computer. Most people don't have a clue on what they want in a computer. There are a lot of choices to make, along with a lot of brands to go with. I will attempt to narrow it down a bit for you. | ||||
| The Basics | Connections and Ports | |||
| For those of you
just looking to get a basic computer, the choices are endless. Here are
just a few things that I would recommend to anyone buying a computer.
First off, if you're looking to get into gaming or any other
graphic-intensive programs then you may want to consider going to your
local computer service shop and checking out a custom built computer. For
the rest of you, here are the basics. Processor: Anything higher than a 2.0Ghz processor is fine. Processor means speed, the higher the Ghz the faster it will perform (usually). There are two main companies that make processors; AMD and Intel. The AMD Athlon is currently the newest and most powerful processor that AMD makes. The Pentium 4 is currently Intel's newest (for basic processing needs). If you are able to get your hands on a "dual core" processor by either company for a relatively low price then you should absolutely buy it! Right now "dual core" processors are pretty expensive, and it's not really needed (yet) for the average consumer. RAM: Random access memory is also called main memory: the working area used for displaying and manipulating data. RAM is NOT permanent storage!! RAM is used by the programs on your computer to manipulate and temporarily store data. Your hard drive is what actually stores files; pictures, documents, movies, ect... When deciding on RAM make sure you get AT LEAST 512mb. RAM plays a large role in the speed of your computer. Get 512mb minimum, though I would seriously recommend 1 gigabyte of RAM, just to make sure you have enough. Hard Drive: This is what stores all your data like pictures and movies as well as holds all of your programs and operating system. This is basically a personal choice, just make sure it's at least an 80 gig hard drive. The higher the better, just remember that this is for storage only and doesn't really factor into the speed of the computer at all. You can always get a second hard drive later on without much effort. Video: Most computers that you will encounter have an "onboard" video adapter. Onboard means that it's integrated into the motherboard, it's not something that you can take out. Like the hard drive, your video isn't going to affect speed much at all, except for the fact that an onboard video adapter usually uses some of your RAM depending on its size. A 32mb adapter is usually enough to efficiently run all programs. If you have any kids at home that like to play games, or if you may want to play some graphic intensive games, then I would recommend a larger one, either 64mb or 128mb. |
Another thing to consider when buying a computer is the ability to add other devices like printers, cameras, camcorders and anything else that you could possibly dream of. Most of these devices use USB ports. USB stands for Universal Serial Bus with the word Universal saying it all. Most electronic gizmos that you buy to use for your computer will connect via USB ports, make sure you have enough of them! The standard is either four or six USB ports, two or four in the back and two in the front of the computer. Don't worry if you don't have enough or if they're in an inconvenient location because you can always pick up a USB hub at most computer shops. A USB hub can turn one USB into many, usually four, and plugs into one of your existing ports on your computer. It comes with a cord so that you can place it in a more convenient location. Plugging and unplugging your camera throughout the day can get tedious if you have to reach under, around, and behind a computer desk in order to do it. Other connections to be aware of include an Ethernet or LAN port which provide you with a high speed internet connection. If you use dial-up for your internet then you will need a modem. If you're not sure then just make sure you have the LAN port as you can always add a dial-up modem later. | |||
| Monitor | ||||
| Monitor selection is very important because it is the biggest factor in determining how much space your computer takes up. The big old CRT monitors can be very large and require an enormous amount of space. Do yourself a favor and select a flat-panel monitor (also called an LCD monitor). Flat-panels look great and take up very little room compared to the CRT monitors. Besides the room, the picture is also better on the LCD screens. When determining size, always get the biggest one you can afford, As far as size goes the 17" monitors are better priced (usually only a few dollars more) and highly recommended over the 15" version. If you can afford the 19" or 21", then get it. | ||||
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"All human
actions have one or more of these |
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