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Hard Drive
The hard drive stores all of the computer's information and retains the information when the computer is turned off. A fast hard drive is needed to supply the CPU with data as fast as it needs it. Hard drive sizes are typically measured in GigaBytes. The larger the number, the more applications and games you can have installed.
When buying a hard drive you need to consider the type of connection you have. Also look at the capacity, rotational speed, interface, and noise.
Types of Hard Drives: A hard drive can be IDE or SCSI. .
What's Cache?
Cache memory is extremely fast memory that is built into a computer’s (CPU), or located next to it on a separate chip. The CPU uses cache memory to store instructions that are repeatedly required to run programs, improving overall system speed. The advantage of cache memory is that the CPU does not have to use the motherboard’s system bus for data transfer.
ROM
Read-only memory (ROM) is a type of memory that cannot be written to. Information is written to ROM chips by the manufacturer, and this information cannot be changed. In the past, if ROM information needed to be updated, you had to remove the original chip and replace it with an updated ROM chip. Software written to ROM chips is called firmware.
Types of ROM: Read Only Memory, Programmable Read Only Memory, Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory, Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory, and Flash Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory.
Random access memory or (RAM)
Refers to computer chips that temporarily store data to enhance computer performance. When a computer shuts down properly, all data located in random access memory is committed to permanent storage on the hard drive or flash drive. At the next boot-up, RAM begins to fill with programs automatically loaded at startup, and with files opened by the user.
Types of RAM: Dynamic, Complimentary Semi-Oxide Conductor, Shadow, Video, and Windows.
Central Processing Units (CPU)
The central processing unit (CPU) is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, and is the primary element carrying out the computer's functions. The central processing unit carries out each instruction of the program in sequence, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system.
When buying a CPU look at the GHz rating, bus speed, internal cache, and the micron size of the CPU dye. To the average person, the highest speed is not necessary to have. Buying a CPU that is a few levels down would make a lot of sense especially since it would cost a lot less.
What to look for when getting a computer Monitor?
Monitor
A computer monitor is an electronic device that shows pictures. A monitor is usually used to see programs on a computer.
What to look for when purchasing a Monitor:
Computer monitor are perhaps the most important element of your computer setup, other than the CPU itself. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most overlooked, and the monitor is often considered an afterthought when buying a new computer. While you use your keyboard, mouse and other devices to interact with your applications and the internet, you are always looking at your monitor, and an upgraded monitor can greatly enhance your computing experience.
• Computer monitors are available in two common formats, CRT and LCD. CRT is yesterday's technology, but this design still provides the best color fidelity, making it a good choice for professionals who deal with color production, including print media, photography and video.
• LCD is the most popular format, and for good reason. An LCD monitor at any given size takes up less space, weighs less and uses less energy than an equivalent CRT. Prices for LCD monitors have fallen tremendously in the recent past. Only a couple of years ago, a 21-inch widescreen display cost upward of $1,000. Today, you can find one for well under $300.
• LCD monitors are available in two common formats (aspect ratios). The standard format (4:3) is the most familiar. Widescreen (16:9 or 16:10) monitors mimic the aspect ratio of the HDTV format and are an ideal choice for viewing and editing video. In addition, widescreens can easily display multiple documents side by side, so you can work in two or more applications simultaneously.
• The range of contrast is important for monitors and TV sets as this shows how many different shades of black can be displayed, obviously the greater the range, the truer the picture will look and won't suffer from the picture turning totally black if the picture goes dark. The contrast ratio of 10,000:1 is said to be the best but it is worth checking the picture out on any monitor you are looking at getting.
Different USB Flash drives
A USB flash drive consists of flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 1.1 or 2.0 interfaces. USB flash drives are typically removable and rewritable, much smaller than a floppy disk, and most weigh less than 30 g.
What to look for when purchasing an USB flash drive:
What is a USB Flash Drive compatible with?
• USB flash drives are compatible with most computer systems with a USB port. If running Windows 2000, XP or Vista you can plug in the device and go with no extra drivers. This makes the use of them very flexible and far easier to switch between PC’s while keeping hold of your personal data.
USB Flash Drive Security
• The main drawback of a USB flash drive is that it is very easy to forget. Often around a university or library you will see a USB flash drive sticking out of the front of the PC because the owner has forgotten to take it when they leave the PC they were working on. This puts the users data at a great risk. For a business it can be a serious matter as often times, personal and confidential information could be on the USB memory drive and put in to the wrong persons hands. Various methods of securing data can be used and are often enforced by companies. PGP, biometrics and password protection can be used to secure data. Loosing a USB flash drive full of data can be a pain, but if it’s encrypted or secured then at least you have the comfort knowing that no one else can read what is on there.
Novelty USB Flash Drives
• Over the past few years, a number of USB flash drives have been created that separate from the norm. USB flash drives in the shape of food, cars, watches and other various shapes can be found. These work on exactly the same principle, but rather than having a plastic rectangular casing they just look different.
USB Flash Drive Prices
• The prices of USB flash drives are constantly falling as the storage space is constantly increasing. A small flash drive can set you back around $10 with prices in to the hundreds for the high end. As always in computer pricing, expect that what you buy now will be cheaper in a few months’ time.
USB Flash Drive Weaknesses
• Flash memory has a weakness in that it can only be written or erased so many hundreds of thousands of times. This may seem like a lot, but flash drives can also have mini OS’s installed which have a lot of write and erase cycles. For this, it is best to get an OS which is optimised to write to RAM rather than keep using the memory on the USB flash drive.
Printer
In computing, a printer is a peripheral which produces a hard copy (permanent readable text and/or graphics) of documents stored in electronic form, usually on physical print media such as paper or transparencies.
What to look for when purchasing a printer:
Whether you are purchasing your new printer as a way to increase your productivity or simply because you complete the occasional print job and want the convenience of producing documents in your own home, it is important you do not rush into the decision of choosing any particular one at random. Some research is essential if you want to end up with a printer that fits your needs and budget as well.
All-in-One Performance:
• If you are purchasing a printer that is capable of scanning, copying, and of course printing, it is typically because you have a busy workload and need a printer that can keep up with your needs. By taking the time to look at your different options, you will best be able to make a decision that will leave you pleased for a long time to come with your investment. A common fault is that they are fully capable in one aspect, but fail in another. You will need to choose a printer that is able to scan clear documents and photos, create quick copies, and of course, have the ability to print vibrant results. It’s a rare occurrence to find a printer capable of all this, so it is important you be patient in your decision and do not settle until you find one that meets your needs.
Top seven things to consider:
• Your price range. Manufacturers sell inkjet printers cheaply, then make money when customers return to buy overpriced ink. Laser printers cost more up front, but they tend to be more economical over time.
• Your type of printing. Printers nowadays can be highly specialized to a certain type of use.
• Your volume. Studies have shown that laser printers are much more economical when printing in volume.
• Your space. Printers come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny personal use machines to husky business printers designed for high-volume use and more complex graphics.
• Your computer and operating system. Most printers work with both Macs and PC's. But some aren't readily compatible with certain operating systems-Linux requires specialized drivers that can be hard to find. In addition, some printers only connect to computers via a USB port-which not all computers have.
• The price of cartridges. To make sure you're getting the best deal, first take a look at the cost of cartridges and factor that into the cost of the printer. Avoid printers that have three-in-one cartridges. And if you can, avoid cartridges with Smart Chips.
• Finding the right printer takes time-and you'll often have to look beyond the sticker price to figure out whether or not you're really getting the best deal. But a little research can go a long way, and in the end you'll find the time you spent is worth it.
Staying within Your Budget
• After mentioning the fact that a portable printer capable of all these features is rare to find that possesses high quality, you are likely thinking the cost is going to be outrageous. This does not need to be the case, as long as you are patient with which printer you choose. If you wish to head to the store immediately and purchase a capable printer at random, you are likely going to be paying an extremely marked up price. Instead of letting this occur, it is important you consider the different retailers you have available to you, whether it be buying second hand, through the internet or another popular marketplace, or waiting for sales, it is important that you look out for a good deal.
Sound Cards
A sound card (also known as an audio card) is a computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs. Typical uses of sound cards include providing the audio component for multimedia applications such as music composition, editing video or audio, presentation, education, and entertainment (games). Many computers have sound capabilities built in, while others require additional expansion cards to provide for audio capability.
Things to look for when buying a Sound Card:
Interface
Ensure that you have the available connection on the computer. Sound cards are available as both PCI and ISA.
PCI - Today, most cards available are PCI; if you plan on using your sound card for such things as playing games and watching DVD movies, it is recommended you at least get a PCI sound card.
ISA - Today, ISA cards are relatively cheap sound cards, which allow users that may not have as much money to have sound on the computer. In addition to being a cheap sound card, purchasing an ISA sound card will keep an additional free PCI slot available.
In addition to verifying your computer has the available connections, it is also important to look to see if your computer has a sound card that is built onto the Motherboard. Verify that this sound card can be disabled or will be disabled when the new sound card is installed. Additional information about on-board audio can be found in document CH000261.
After determining the available connection on the sound card, it is also important to look at the available connections on the card. When purchasing a sound card it is important that it has the available connections on the card.
o Available speaker connections - For computer gamers it may be important that the card has two available speaker connections. One connection for the front speakers and the other for the rear speakers. Users who do not plan on using four speakers or utilizing this technology will only need one speaker connection to connect the set of two speakers to.
o Midi port / Game port - The midi port will allow a user to connect a Midi keyboard; however, it is more commonly used as a game port, allowing users to connect game paddles and joysticks to the card.
o Microphone connection - Today, generally a standard with all sound cards, it's important to verify your sound card includes a Microphone connection.
Full-duplex
Today, generally included with most sound cards, FullDuplex allows for sound cards playing and recording sound at the same time. This feature is most commonly used to do voice communication over the Internet or speakerphone.
Today, 3-D Acceleration is used and found in computer games. Below is a listing of the three 3-D acceleration found today.
DirectSound 3D Microsoft's DirectSound3D software API included with DirectX. When compared to other available 3D standards.
EAX Creative Labs Environmental Audio Extensions that creates very realistic and believable sound effects based in the environment of a game.
A3D Originally developed by Aureal, A3D is a software API developed for additional 3D acceleration without using Microsofts API code. Unfortunately, on June 6, 2000, Aureal went off-line because of bankruptcy.
Some other important considerations to look at when purchasing a computer sound card include:
Warranty How long is the warranty and what does it cover.
Support Is the technical support number a free number; is it open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
The price range can vary depending upon the sound card purchased and the available options with that sound card. Below is a listing of some examples of prices you are likely to see when purchasing a sound card.
| Sound Card | Expect to pay $20.00 to $300.00* |
Things to look for and do before buying a Video Card..
Update Your Drivers
If you're thinking of replacing your card because you're having problems running a certain game, make sure you have the latest version of the drivers for your current graphics card. You will find the latest drivers for your card available for download from the manufacturer's Web site.
Chipsets
For the purpose of gaming, two developers of 3D graphics card chipsets have come to dominate the market: nVidia and ATI. While there are many video card manufacturers and brands, most of them build their cards around chipsets designed and supported by one of these two companies. Certain games will run a little better on one chipset than another - something you might want to consider before deciding which way to go.
Onboard Memory
256 MB of memory is, at the time of writing this, about the minimum for a gamer looking for a new card. When it comes to memory, more is always better, although it does raise the price of the card. 512 MB cards are now common in all price ranges, but there are high-end cards with 1 GB or more of memory onboard.
5 Things to look for when buying a power suppy..
· Compatibility & Connectors
The most important feature of a computer power supply is its compatibility. Older motherboards will need a 20-pin ATX connector. Newer, more advanced motherboards will need the 24-pin ATX connector in a power supply.
· Molex Connectors
If you look at a modern power supply in a PC, you will see it has many of those octopus-like connectors. Those are really 12V molex connectors and they hook up to peripherals like hard drives, CD and DVD-ROM drives and PC case fans. You need to make sure the number of molex connectors in your power supply is enough to meet the number of components in the PC.
· SLI and CrossFire Technology
What does SLI allows you to combine the processing power and memory of two Nvidia video cards. There is an equivalent term called 'CrossFire' if you're using ATI video cards. If you intend to go the SLI path, then your power should be SLI Certified (if you are using Nvidia video cards) or ATI CrossFire Ready (if you are running ATI video).
· Overrated Peak Wattage Numbers
One thing you should always know about purchasing power supplies is that the peak wattage is usually overstated. My advice is this - go for a higher wattage than you need. If you building a system, going for anything less than 400W is not a good idea.
· Size Of The Power Supply
Another factor to consider is no doubt the size of the power supply unit you have. Most of the power supplies out there conform to the ATX specification. Make sure that your case is also in the ATX form factor if you are buying such a power supply.
What's a Motherboard?
A motherboard is the central printed circuit board (PCB) in many modern computers and holds many of the crucial components of the system, while providing connectors for other peripherals. The motherboard is sometimes alternatively known as the main board, system board, or, on Apple computers, the logic board.[1] It is also sometimes casually shortened to mobo.
Things to look for:
Motherboard chipset. Motherboards should use a high-performance chipset that supports DDR or DDR-2 SDRAM DIMMspreferably one that supports ECC memory as well if you are concerned about catching possible memory errors before they corrupt your data. Also look for PCI-Express x16 video support and Serial ATA or faster hard drive support. The motherboard chipset is the backbone of a system and is perhaps the single most important part you'll consider. I spend the most time deciding on my next chipset because it affects and influences virtually every other component in the system.
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