Computer Buying Tips
If you are on the way to buying a computer online, it can be accomplished without many hassles and frustration. If the buyer has minimum knowledge of computers, the purchase will be much easier. A person who knew about computer technology a year ago might be lost today because of the rapidly changing technologies. Also computer terminology changes fast, so when you go out for buying a computer the you should seek your expert friends advice in advance - newer technologies enhance and improve computer performance.
Some basic hardware included with a computer, necessary for proper functioning, are the CPU (central processing unit; also referred to as the ‘processor’), the hard drive and the memory.
Which processor?
Low-end processors (low price/lower performance speed) on average process at 2.4 to 3.0 GHz. (gigahertz). A higher-end processor (higher cost/faster processing speed) generally at 3.4 GHz or above. There are more ‘middle’ range processors, also which is the important thing to know in processor buying. The speed of the processor you buy will likely be determined due to cost. The processor buy for top prices last month could be just a mid-range price this month. But depending on your urgent needs, it may be a worthy investment to invest in a more high-end processor.
Which memory?
Memory, also called RAM (random access memory), is essential because without enough RAM, your computer will fail to function properly later. The least amount of RAM for recent systems should be 512MB even for low-end system. 1GB of RAM grants for better performance. DDR memory is now utilized by all current systems with the most frequent being PC3200. DDR2 can be found on newer Intel systems. Low-end systems may still use older PC2100 or PC2700 DDR. When purchasing memory, try to buy as few DIMMs available on your memory purchase to allow for potential memory upgrades if required.
Which hard drive?
Hard drives come down to power and speed. The majority of hard drives available now will give you more than enough storage. Look for 80 GB drive as the minimum. When you buy harddrives you can upgrade if you need more space. 7200 rpm drives are the best choice for performance, currently. If you really would like higher performance, buy hard drives with 8MB or 16MB of cache. Hard drives will either be Serial ATA or IDE but performance levels are generally the same.