Buying a computer

Courtesy of http://www.laptopsarena.com/build-your-own-laptop/

There are so many things to consider when buying a computer from its process, RAM, hard drive, screen, etc.

Here’s a short guide of the details:

1) Processor=now a days, the current proccesor on the market is the sandy bridge processor by intel. There’s i3, i5, i7 and other spec details. All you need to know is that the higher number the better and this translates to your computer being able to process/compute things faster, hence the name processor. Processors are typically measured in terms of Hz, which is the unit used for frequency. A higher frequency means a faster computer. The difference between i3, i5, and i7 is rather complex but in simple terms, the higher the number the better the power management and turbo boosting. When they list that the processor is 2.4 Ghz, boost up to 2.8, this just means it normally operates at 2.4, but if necessary can safely boost up to 2.8 automatically. There’s also AMD processors, but I would typically avoid these since they do not manage power as well which leads to a decrease in  computer performance.

adequate processor level: 2.1 GHz prior boost

2.)RAM(random access memory)-RAM is similar to construction workers. The more RAM you have, the more construction workers you have to build stuff. So as a RAM is shared by the many programs to help them run, your construction workers are shared by the many differnt parts of a builing being built. RAM is often mentioned in terms of GB which stands for gigabyte, referring to the amount of stuff it can hold. 64 bit systems often require at least 4gb to fully use the RAM, while 32 bit requires only 3 gb or less. Don’t worry about the difference between 32 bit or 64 bit, since unless your a computing professional, you won’t see any difference. It should not be a deciding factor in your purchase.

adequate RAM amount: for 32 bit=2gb, for 64 bit=4gb.

3.)Graphics Card-The graphics card is used to render images and video. To clarify, a 1080p video=bluray would take a more powerful graphics card than a 480p youtube video. 1080p and 480p are levels of resolution which I will get into when discussion screens. Graphics cards have many specs but the main one a consumer should be concerned about is the dedicated graphics ram which is how much RAM the graphics card uses to render images and video. There are two types of graphics card dedicated and integrated, where dedicted means the ram for the graphics card is solely for rendering purposes, while a integrated graphics card shares ram with the rest of the hardware. This is only important for gamers who need dedicated graphics cards to run graphic-intensive games. Some computers offer switchable graphics which contain both graphics cards, and this option is because integrated graphics take up less power than dedicated. The company type does not matter, with the three main ones being Intel, ATI, and UMA. All make great graphics cards, the main issue is the Video RAM. Same as RAM, measured in Gb or Mb.

adequate Graphics Card RAM:128mb(this is the amount an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator or UMA card has)

4.)Hard Drive-Simply put, this is how much storage space you have for files, music, pictures, movies, etc.  Also measured in Gb. The greater the Gb, the more you can store. The other thing you have to worry about is RPM(rates per minute) or how fast the hard drive spins. There are two options, 5400 vs 7200 rpm with 7200rpm being faster leading to faster access of your files. An example would be that a large size Word Document opens faster than a slower hard drive, but there are other factors such as processor and ram. The difference between the two is usually negligible  due to the other factors. Finally you can get the standard hard drive or a new hard drive called Solid State Drive(SSD) These are noticeably faster than standard hard drives which will list an rpm next to their Gb capacity, but are much more expensive.

adequate hard drive:160Gb(5400rpm)

5.)Speakers:Laptops or Desktops are not speaker systems. The speakers will serve your purposes for watching a movie or youtube but nothing more. They should never be a problem when deciding a laptop or desktop.

6.)Screen Size:Laptops come in several sizes from the small netbooks, the toe 17 inch desktop replacements. Here’s a general outline of the sizes:

• 10-12inches=netbook(super portable, not very powerful, for every day errands)
• 13-15inches=typical size consumer laptop(can be used at home, work, or travel)
• 16+inches=desktop replacement(not meant to be moved all the time)

Another thing to consider is resolution. This is basically how much things can fit on a screen. A higher resolution means stuff appears smaller than on a lower resolution screen. The benefit of higher resolution is the screen space and for viewing high definition content like videos and photos. Here’s the average resolution for the various sizes:

1. 10-12inches=1024×768 otherwise known as XGA
2. 13-15inches=1280×720 or 1366×768 otherwise known as WXGA
3. 16+inches=144×990, 1680×1050, 1920×1080 otherwise known as WXGA+, WSXGA, WSXGA+

7.)Ports:Different computers have different ports offered, make sure you know what ports you need

1. VGA-used to connect computer to monitor/TV, probably most common port used for display, only video, no sound
2. HDMI-used to connect computer to monitor/TV, available on higher or newer end monitors and tvs, includes video and sound
3. DVI-used to connect computer to monitor /TV, used mostly by desktops to connect to TV/monitor, only video, no sound
4. Ethernet-used to connect to the internet through a cable connected to a wall jack or a router/switch
5. Optical Drive-plays, rips, burns CDs/DVDs/Bluray, not always necessary since can connect external optical drive from usb
6. USB-used to transmit data or charge devices, available in 2.0 or 3.0 with 2.0 being the standard and 3.0 being faster. either port can use all 2.0 or 3.0 devices
7. Audio Jack-used to plug in headphones or speakers
8. Microphone Jack-used to plug in microphone
9. SD Card Slot-comonly used as memory storage for phones and cameras, sd or mini sd cards usually have a dedicated slot called a 8 in 1 card reader for other lesser known memory cards, this is not at all necessary since sd to usb adapters are available and cheap
10. Firewire-was used to connect cameras and camcorders to computers, but is dying out
11. S-video-old way to connect computer to tv, but is dying out
12. Displayport-available on Thinkpads and Macs, it is used to connect computer to monitor/TV, often requires adapter since most monitor/TV use HDMI/VGA/DVI

8.)Battery Life: How long your computer lasts on battery without being plugged in via AC charger. Offered in terms of cells, usually 3, 6, 9 cell options. More cells equals longer charge but bigger size. The battery life listed on a product is under perfect conditions and is never reliable. Look for online review by sites such as notebookreview.com or cnet.com for a more reliable battery life.

9.)There are other options to customizing your laptop such as adding blutooth, widi max, backlight keyboard, but those are completely unecessary for the normal functions of a computer and need not be mentioned.

Good luck buying a computer.