Finding the Right Computer, Laptop Or Notebook For You
Finding the right model when it comes to purchasing computers, laptops, notebooks amongst other hardware devices, can be a troublesome job, as the choice can have so many affects on your long term satisfaction with the machine. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the main hardware components involved in these devices, awareness of which will help in making a more informed decision when making a purchase.
There are two main questions that must be answered when purchasing hardware devices like computers, laptops, notebooks and so forth; these are firstly, what is the device intended to be used for? And secondly, what amount are you willing to spend?
At a fundamental level all the computers that you decide amongst will share some basic components, so it is important to understand what these are, what they do and how they can affect performance.
The central “brains” of a machine is the CPU, Central Processing Unit, or Processor; this controls the speed of the machine The two most common CPU’s are Intel’s Celeron and Pentium family and AMD’s Duron and Athlon. A rough approximation of the power of a processor is provided by its clock speed which is usually measured in gigahertz or megahertz, generally the higher the clock speed the higher performing the processor will be. One word of caution here; the top of the range processor at any particular time may not always be the smartest investment as the very top-end of performance is often disproportionately expensive, so deciding upon something that is not nece ssarily the newest release may be wise.
RAM is the memory used to perform the basic operations of the machine, like a fast access temporary storage system. RAM only stores data when the machine is turned on and is receiving power As with the CPU, in general the higher the RAM figure, the higher the computer performance will be.
Data that needs to be stored long-term is kept in the hard-disk which retains information even after the machine has been turned off. Whilst the computer is running, the hard disk will typically exchange information with the fast access RAM so that the CPU can have quicker access to it. Once again, the larger the hard disk the better.
Computers will have separate monitors and these can be divided into CRT monitors which are large and bulky, and LCD monitors which are slim. The size of monitor that is best for you will depend on your personal preference and what you will use the computer for.
Lastly, the quality of the image that appears on screen is determined by the graphics card, a high resolution image and a high refresh rate can be controlled by the graphics card; for a non-flicker display, go for a high refresh rate.
When making a purchase, giving attention to the hardware components summarised above will help you see the shared features between the machines available. Being sure to select hardware components that most closely align with your usage needs will go a long way toward ensuring that your purchase turns out to be trouble free in the long term.