It's an all too familiar experience when shopping for computers; all you want is a computer that runs decently fast and can store a fair amount of information. Sounds simple enough, right? However, you suddenly find yourself bombarded with unfamiliar terms and information like dual core processors, video cards, memory, etc. But what does all this mean? This post will cover the basics.
Let's start off with memory. Memory is simply the areas of the computer where data is stored. The most common type of memory you will see in advertisements is RAM (random access memory). The more memory the computer has, the more data it can store. Now lets move onto processors. Processor is another word for microprocessor or C.P.U. By looking at the details of this crucial component, you can tell how fast the computer will run. Processors can carry out a specific number of instructions per second. This speed is measured in megahertz (MHz) and is known as the clock speed. The bandwidth of a processor is the number of bits (information) processed in one instruction. For both of these characteristics, the higher the value, the more powerful the C.P.U. "For example, a 32-bit microprocessor that runs at 50MHz is more powerful than a 16-bit microprocessor that runs at 25MHz." (example from Webopedia). You may also hear the term dual-core processor or even quad-core processor. This means that two or more (dual=2, quad=4, etc.) processors have been joined together to increase the processing power of the computer. Finally, you may wonder what a video card is. Most computer functions use are controlled by the C.P.U. Video cards assist the running of the computer by taking over the processing related to the computer's graphics (visual display). This allows programs to run much faster than if all the processing was left to the C.P.U.
That's all I have to offer for now. Visit Thursday for interesting information on Networking.
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