Understanding the Big Three in Computer Selection
Have you ever gone shopping for a computer and been completely lost as to what you are looking for? Knowing the right questions can make all the difference between a good or bad purchase no matter what the price is. A computer is a big purchase, so doing a little research can pay big dividends and give you confidence when shopping.
What am I using it for, is the most important question with an ever growing field of choices. In the portability category, a netbook will do if your use is just internet browsing, e-mailing, and listening to music. Laptops would be for gaming, editing pictures and videos, and the need for a DVD drive. In stationary applications Eee Tops give you a touch screen experience. Eee Boxes give you a desktop experience in a much smaller package. Desktops can do all the above with the addition of being more flexible for upgrades.
Within each category of computers you need to know which specifications will work best for you? The big three are, RAM (also called memory), processors (or CPU: Central Processing Unit), and hard drive space.
Processors are the brain of your computer. It is what all the information that your computer has and performs runs through. Now days, we have the technology for dual core and quad core processors. Processors affect the speed at which your computer can actually process all the information it is given. With a single core you are limited to how much information you can run through it, so if you double or quadruple it you can run two or four times as much information at one time. Secondly, remember the higher the processor the less chance of it lagging behind or freezing up when multiple programs are used.
The RAM is where most of your speed comes from. I always recommend at least 2GB (Gigabytes) minimum on any computer. This allows you to run more programs at once without worrying about your computer slowing down. Especially if you like listening to music while writing an e-mail or playing a game. RAM memory works as a sort of temporary storage place for a program while it is running. Once that RAM gets filled it has to go back to the processor to help it run a program. This can also cause your computer to run slow or even freeze when you have too many programs open at one time. The solution is to always
have a lot of RAM.
Your hard drive is the third very important piece inside your computer. It is where all the information such as your pictures, videos, papers, installed programs, and whatever else you save onto your computer is stored. Most laptops will have 250GB - 320GB of hard drive space in them. If you find yourself saving a lot of pictures and videos, then you will want
to look at getting a computer with a bigger hard drive. But if you are just looking for something to do, tasks such as browsing the internet and checking your e-mail you can purchase something with less space.
If you are into high end gaming, then you're going to want a faster processor, at least 4GB of RAM and a big hard drive to install your games on. For video and picture editing you will want a lot of hard drive space, as well as at least 2 to 3GB of RAM and you will want more if you are editing videos. If you are just using it for the internet, traveling around with it, you can save yourself a lot of money by getting something that will still run fast for you, but you will only need a processor that is in the middle, 2GB of RAM and not as big of a hard drive.
The size of your Processor, RAM, and Hard drive are the three basic keys to picking a computer that is right for you. The good news is that once you decide on what you need, chances are you will be able to make a better choice and you will be able to get it for less as technology costs continue to drop. Have fun shopping.
Questions and Answers
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