Computer System Basics

 

So, you are preparing to buy a new computer.

The good news is, with each month that passes, you get more computing power for less money.

The bad news is, with each month that passes, you get more computing power for less money.

Everyone knows that computers are constantly getting faster, more powerful, and less expensive. So, forget about trying to buy the latest and greatest machine. There is no such thing. Instead, you should buy a computer that adequately fits your needs, not the needs of your computer company's bottom line.

The guide below is designed to give you a basic understanding of each of the standard computer components. After the introduction to the concepts, you'll find some resources for finding out about current computer models.

Computer Basics

CPU

The CPU (stands for Central Processing Unit) is the brains behind your computer. The CPU is responsible for performing calculations and tasks that make programs work. The faster the CPU, the quicker programs can process computations.

RAM

A fast CPU is useless without an adequate amount of RAM (stands for Random Access Memory). RAM is usually referred to as a computer's "memory" -- meaning that it stores information that is used by running programs and applications. More memory lets you run more applications at the same time without degrading your system's performance.

Hard Disk Drive

The hard disk drive ( HDD) of the computer is where permanent information is stored. Documents, databases, spreadsheets, and programs are all stored on the hard disk. The larger the hard disk, the more you can fit on the drive. The size of the HDD does not affect the speed at which a program can run, but the HDD speed can affect how fast you can access your files.

Optical Drives (CD,CD-R,CD-RW,DVD,DVD-R,DVD-RW)

Optical drives are more commonly known as CD and DVD drives. They are considered "optical" because the drive uses a laser to see the data etched onto the plastic disk. All computers now come with some form of CD drive. CD-R and CD-RW drives are becoming a new standard in portable data storage. The "R" in CD-R stands for "recordable." This type allows you to "burn" information to the CD only once. The "RW" in CD-RW stands for "rewritable." These can be rewritten several times over, allowing you to delete and add files.

Most software you buy comes on a CD-ROM, and you'll use your CD or DVD drive to read it and copy the software onto your computer.

Floppy Drive

While floppy drives can come in handy for transfering small files from one computer to another, it isn't generally a big concern if your computer has on or not. The Internet makes it quite easy to transfer files via e-mail or some form of online storage. Quite a few computer sellers now don't even bother including a floppy drive. But because they don't really add to the overall cost of a computer, it doesn't hurt to purchase one with a floppy drive. Zip drives are a form of floppy disk that can hold hundreds of megabytes of memory, but their popularity has declined with the cheaper and higher capacity CD-RW disks mentioned above.

As opposed to the hard disk drive, the standard floppy drive reads removable diskettes. Most computers come standard with a 3.5' floppy drive, but internal Zip drives and SuperDisk drives are becoming more and more commonplace. While the Internet is replacing them (much to many users' chagrin, Apple's iMac comes without a floppy drive), floppy drives are still a nice way to share a file quickly with the person next door or to backup data.

Video Card

The video card is a board that plugs into the PC motherboard to give it display capabilities. New video cards come with their own RAM and processor to help speed up the graphics display. Many computers come with video chips built-in, making it uncessary to buy a separate video card, unless the computer is going to be used to do higher-end multimedia work or play video games.

Sound Card

Like video cards, sound cards are expansion boards used for enabling a computer to manipulate sound. Most sound cards give you the power to plug in speakers and a microphone. Some even give you the jacks for hooking your computer up to a common stereo. As with video cards, many computers come with sound chips, making it unnecessary to buy a separate card, unless you need higher sound quality for your work.

For Specific Recommendations

The specs on what makes a computer a power computer, a graphics workstation, or a basic bare-bones system change constantly, as newer and faster chips and systems are developed (and as more powerful software is developed that needs more powerful hardware to run).

For reviews of systems currently on the market, you may want to check out these sites:

• PCWorld
• Macworld
• CNET