Buying Your Next Computer
By Ray Overdijk, Netro
updated: Monday, 21 May
2007, rev 1.3
Introduction
Before buying a PC (Personal Computer), you will need to consider what
your
hardware requirements are.
This will vary for:
- Web browsing & Email (Such as Internet Explorer and Outlook)
- Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Databases & Presentation
software (such as
Microsoft Office)
- Latest 3D Games (such as Command & Conquer)
Often software will list hardware requirements, however these
will change as new software
is released onto the market, demanding more computers power.
Below is a list of some of the main components of a computer system,
including
brief explanation of common acronyms
and typical
value ranges at the time of writing.
Common measurement abbreviations used:
- K (Kilo): Thousand
- M (Mega): Million
- G (Giga): Billion
Links:
Overclockers
Australia
Processor
The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the heart (engine) of
the computer
used to interpret and execute instructions.
Main
performance
indicators are:
- Clock speed (Frequency) measured in GHz
- FSB (Front Side Bus) measured in MHz
- L2 (Layer Two) Cache measured in KB or MB
Performance & functionality may be enhanced with:
- EM64T
(Extended Memory 64 Technology)
-
XDBit (eXecute Disable Bit Functionality)
-
HT (Hyperthreading Technology)
- VT
(Virtualization Technology)
- SpeedStep
Desktop
All
the CPU families below feature:
- Architecture: 65 nm
-
Package: LGA775
- Features: EM64T & XDBit
Intel Celeron
D -
Processor
Number eg 420, 430, 440
- Clock
Speed: 1.6, 1.8 & 2.0
GHz
- FSB: 800 MHz
- L2 Cache: 512 KB
Conroe
L preview
Intel
Pentium Dual Core - Processor Number:
E2140 & E2160
- Speedstep
- Clock Speed: 1.6, 1.8 GHz
- FSB: 800 MHz
- L2 Cache: 1 MB
Intel Core
2 Duo - Process
Number: E4300, E4400, E6320, E6420,
E6600 & E6700
- Core 2
Duo, VT, Speedstep
- Clock Speed: 1.8, 1.86, 2.0, 2.13, 2.4 & 2.66 GHz
- FSB: 800 (4xxx series), 1066 MHz (6xxx series)
- L2 Cache: 2 MB (4xxx series), 4 MB (newer 6xxx series)
Core
2 Duo Preview (June 2006)
Links:
Intel
Desktop Comparison
Intel
Museum: Microprocessor Hall of Fame
Intel Processor
Spec Finder
Intel
Core Microarchitecture
Intel
Netburst Architecture (Released late 2000)
Technologies
Intel Centrino
Intel vPro
Intel Viiv
Intel: Windows Vista
Laptop
All
the CPU families below feature:
- Architecture: 90 nm
-
Package: LGA775?
- Features: XDBit &
Speedstep?
Intel Celeron
M -
Processor
Number 430, 440 & 450
- Architecture: 65 nm
-
Clock Speed: 1.73, 1.86 & 2 GHz
- FSB: 533 MHz
- L2 Cache: 1 MB
Intel Pentium
M -
Processor
Number: 730, 740, 750 & 760
- Architecture:
90 nm
- HT & Speedstep
- Clock Speed: 1.6, 1.73, 1.86 &
2 GHzhttp://www.intel.com/products/desktop/motherboard/
- FSB: 533 MHz
- L2 Cache: 2 MB
Intel Core
Solo -
Processor
Number: T1300, T1400
- Clock Speed: 1.66 &
1.83 GHz
- FSB: 667 MHz
- L2 Cache: 2 MB
Intel Core Duo
- Process
Number: T2300, T2400, T2500 & T2600
- Dual
Core & VT
- Clock Speed: 1.66, 1.83, 2 & 2.16 GHz
- FSB: 667 MHz
- L2 Cache: 2 MB
Links:
Intel
Centrino Comparison
Dual
Core Notebook CPU Explored
AMD Athlon
64 -
Model
Number: 3000+ to 4000+
- Frequency: 1.8 - 2.4 GHz
- System Bus: up to 2000 MHz
- L2 Cache: 1 - 2 MB
Memory
The Memory is used to store information temporary, whilst being
processed by the
CPU
Also known as RAM (Random Access Memory)
Capacity
(Size): 512 MB, 1 & 2 GB
SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM)
Clock speed: 100,
133 MHz
DDR (Double Data Rate)
Clock speed: 266, 333, 400
(PC2100, PC2700, PC3200)
The PCxxxx module
names indicate the maximum bandwidth in MB/s)
DDR2
Bus: 533,
677, 800, 1066 MHz (PC2-4200, PC2-5300, PC2-6400, PC2-8500)
DDR3
Bus:
1333, 1600 MHz (PC3-10600, PC3-12800)
Links:
Kingston: Liturature
Kingston: Ultimate
Memory Guide
Core 2 Duo Memory Guide
Hard Disk
The Hard Disk is a fixed magnetic disk used to store data permanently,
like old LP (long-playing phonograph record)
SMART: Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology (useful for
troubleshooting a Hard Disk)
Access
time: The lower the better,
typical values 3.6, 4.0, 4.7, 5.3, 9.0 & 10.5 ms
(milli seconds)
Rotational speed: typical values 3600, 4200, 5400, 7200, 10000
& 15000 RPM (Revolutions per minute)
Capacity: 40, 80, 120, 160, 200 & 250 GB
Cache: 2, 4, 8 MB
External Data Transfer Rate:
ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) also known as IDE (Integrated
Drive
Electronics)
- PATA (Parallel ATA) 33, 66, 100 & 133 Mb
- SATA (Serial ATA) 150 MHz
- SATA2 300 MHz
- SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) 10, 20, 40, 80, 160 &
320 Mb
Links:
- Seagate:
Performance Considerations
-
Seagate: Barracuda 7200.10
FDD (Floppy Disk Drive)
- Typically stores 1.4 MB of formatted data
Video
The Video card output will determine what you see on your screen
Shared:
Video card is
onboard motherboard, shares system memory
-
Intel:
Graphics Media Accelerator X3000 & 3000
- Tech
Report: Intel G965 Express Chipset
Dedicated: Video card plugs
into motherboard, has
its own dedicated memory, recommended for gaming.
-
Uses PCI
Express x16 or AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port)
- Memory: 64, 128, 256 MB
- DirectX 9.0c or Direct3D 10 support
- NVidia
GeForce 7000 & 8000 series
- ATI
Radeon x1000 & HD 2000 series
VGA (Video Graphics Array): 640x 480 pixels
SVGA (Super VGA): 800x 600
XGA (eXtended Graphics Array): 1024x 768
SXGA (Super XGA): 1280x1024
UXGA (Ultra XGA): 1600x1200
WXGA (Wide XGA): 1366x 768
Links
Comparison of Graphics Cards
Gigabyte: Graphics Cards
Asus: Graphics
Cards
XbitLabs: Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB Graphics Cards
XbitLabs: Asus GeForce 8600 GTS Review
Motherboard
The Motherboard is the main circuit board of the computer, which
typically holds
the processor, memory etc.
Example:
Intel
Desktop Board D945GPM
Chipset:
Intel:
Desktop Chipsets
945, 965, 975, G33, P35
- Size: Micro ATX, ATX, Mini ITX, Flex ATX
Intel:
Laptop Chipsets 915, 945
USB
(Universal Serial Bus)
- 1.1 upto 12 Mb
- 2.0 (High Speed USB) upto 480 Mb
Replaces legacy ports such as:
- Serial Com (Communications) Port, 9.6- 115Kb
- Parallel Port 115Kb or ECP/EPP (Enhanced Capabilities/ Parallel Port)
3 Mb
Firewire, also known as
IEEE1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) standard
Traditionally used with devices such as Video cameras
- 100, 200, 400 Mb
Links:
- Intel:
Desktop
boards
-
Intel: Vista Motherboards
- Gigabyte:
Motherboards
- Asus:
Motherboards
- Parallel
Port
Central
Modem
- standards: v90, v92
- Speeds: 56K/ 28.8 Kb
Optical Drives
CD (Compact Disk)
- ROM (Read Only Memory)
- RW (Read Writable), also known as a Burner
- Capacity: 650 MB (74 minute) or 700 MB (80 minute)
- Speed: eg 40x 16x 10 (40x read, 16x write, 10x re-writable)
DVD (Digital
Versatile/ Video Disc)
- Capacity: 4.7 GB (133 minutes video)
- Speed: eg 16x (read)
Combo drive typically contains DVD reader and CD Burner in
one unit
Lightscribe allows a label to be burned onto the CD or DVD.
Links
Liteon: Internal DVD RW
LG: DVD Writer
Network
A LAN (Local Area Network) allows you to communicate with other
computers
A NIC (Network Interface Card) provides the actual connection to the
LAN on your
computer
This is like the driveway onto your street.
Speed: 10, 100, 1000 MHz
Cable: Cat (Category) 5, 6
WLAN (Wireless LAN), also known as IEEE 802.11
802.11a: 54 Mb, 5 GHz band
802.11b: 11 Mb, 2.4 GHz band, 50m range
802.11g: 54 Mb, 2.4 GHz
WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) provides additional security
Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 1.1: 723 KB, 2.45 GHz band, 10-100m range
Modem
Used to connect to the Internet
Speed typically 14.4, 28.8, 33.6 & 56 Kb/s (Kilo bits per
second)
Common standards: v90,
v92
Case
A Case, also known as system chassis, houses all the various computer
components, like engine bay of a car.
Case Types:
Desktop or Tower
Popular
formfactors:
Shuttle XPC
Monitor
The Monitor allows you to see the output from a PC, also known as the
display or
screen
Resolution
refers to the number of
horizontal & vertical pixels (Picture
Element) on a screen
- Typical resolutions: 800x 600, 1024x 768, 1280x 1024, 1600x1200
On a colour monitor, one pixel is composed of a red, green &
blue dot
- Typical colour combinations 16, 256, 64K & 16M colours
Size refers to the diagonal measurement of the screen, normally
measured in
inches.
- Typical sizes: 14", 15", 17", 19"
CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), like TV
- Refresh Rate: 60, 72, 85, 100 Hz
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), like screens used on laptops
- Refresh Rate 40, 25, 16ms (lower is better)
Links
- BenQ: LCD
- Viewsonic: LCD
Input Devices
Keyboard & Mouse allows you to enter data & move the
pointer on your screen.
Links
Microsoft: Desktop Sets
Operating System
The Operating System is the low level software designed to
control the
PC's hardware in order to allow programs to make use of it.
Microsoft Windows Vista
Product Information
Editions
Productivity Software
Allows you to do tasks, such as create documents, spreadsheets,
presentations & databases.
Microsoft Office:
Product
Information
Editions
Available