Computer Buying Guide: Specifications

Now that you have read the Computer Buying Guide: Things you should know, you have decided to what form of computer you are going to buy,  OK It has looks, but does it have brains? After deciding on form, you’ll need to wade in and decide on specifications.

The computer Processor (CPU)

The brain of any computer is called the central processing unit (CPU). Just like the brains in our heads, the more powerful the CPU the more things it can do and the faster it can perform them. There are a number of different types of CPUs, really too many to get into, so we’ll concentrate on the type of power you want in a processor. In the world of computers, power equates to speed. If you want to run average programs at an average speed, don’t choose any CPU less than 1 GHz (Gigahertz). The fastest retail CPU right now is around 4 GHz but isn’t worth the tremendous amount of money it costs unless you’re running NASA from your loft. If you’re looking for something fast but economical, stick to the 1.5-2.5 GHz range.

Computer memory (a.k.a RAM)

Like the CPU, there are a lot of different kinds of memory. If you’re purchasing a new computer (and you should be), then just like the CPU, you’ll want to be more concerned with numbers than names. Memory is measured in MB of RAM, or Megabytes of Random Access Memory. Modern systems usually come with 512 MB RAM. The more memory your computer has, the more tasks it can do at once, so you’ll want to use 512 as a baseline. Consider getting 1 GB MB or more if you want to run some of today’s bigger and more demanding programs. The good news is, memory modules are easy and fairly inexpensive to buy and upgrade on your own, so even if you can’t get the memory you want now, you can always get it later on.

Computer Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Okay, so now you’ve got the fastest computer on the block! Now you need a place to store all the work you’ve zipped through. You’re going to need a hard drive, sometimes called a hard disk. Again, like the CPU and memory, there are a number of different types of hard drives. Like everything else inside a computer, speed and capacity are the key. The inside of a disk drive spins. The faster it spins, the quicker stored information can be accessed. This speed is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). Slower hard drives run at around 5400 RPM and faster ones can race along in excess of 7200 RPM. Now that you know about speed, let’s talk about size. In this instance, size does matter! Hard drive size is measured in GB, similar to memory. Sizes range anywhere from a fraction of a GB to several hundred GB. With the amount of work computers do today, don’t bother with anything less than 80 GB. Always aim for more size than you need. Just like your kitchen cabinets and garage, your hard drive will fill up pretty quickly.

Next up I am going to shed some light on Optical drives and Video card,  sound card etc.

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About the author:  I am Phesto Enock, Tanzanian male living in Finland, professionally a software engineer, a blogger and online business researcher. I love technology and its wicked twists. I am a main author of NiftyEyeBlog So let us share our experiences. Read more from this author

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