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Many types of computer exist in the market today. What makes one computer better suited to play a new computer game or play an audio file over another? The answer is the components and its peripherals that make up the computer system. The essentials for a machine for a word processing is very different from one designed for graphics softwares and playing games. It is a good idea to think of what application you will be using on the machine before you plan to purchase one.
Base units
The base unit or case contains the main operating parts of the computer. Cases of two main types: the desktop and the tower. The desktop is where the monitor can sit on top of the monitor. A tower case is on its side. They come in increasing size from form mini, midi, full tower styles. These just get bigger in comparison with each other. Most users require only desktop, mini or midi versions.
Processor
The “brain” of the computer is the CPU – central processing unit. The speed of the processor is measured in MHz (Megahertz) or GHz. The higher the number the faster the processor are made by Intel or AMD. Intel makes the Pentium range with recent CPUs being the Pentium III, Celeron and Pentium _4 and core 2. Celerons should be avoided now and at present core 2 is too expensive. Pentium 4 is available in speeds ranging from 500Mhz – 1Ghz. AMD make the Athlon and Duron range, both, which seem to offer good value for money. The Athlon is comparable to the Pentium III and the Duron to the Celeron chip. The Athlon range is from 500Mhz to 1.2Ghz.
Ram
This is thinking space for your computer. Ram stand for Random access memory. Ram is measure in megabytes and the minimum you should consider is 64Mb but 128Mb or 256Mb would be better. FSB stand for front side bus and is the speed that the CPU communicates with RAM. 100MHz is standard now with some systems offering a 133Mhz version.
Monitor
Monitors should have a dot pitch of no greater than. 28mm for 15 to 17 inch monitors for 19”+ monitors the dot pitch should be less than. 28 mm. The lower the dot pitches the sharper the image with a higher cost. Determine the resolution you will need to operate at before purchasing your screen. Depending on the resolutions you need the size of the monitor should increase. This will allow you to view detailed information more easily. The recommended size of the monitor is based on the resolution as follows:
800x600-15” 1024x768-17” 1280x1024-19”
verify that the monitor will work with your video or graphics accelerator card. The monitor should support the scanning of frequencies of video or graphics accelerator card at the resolution and colour settings you will be using. Look for a vertical refresh rate of 75Hz art the colour and resolution settings you prefer.
Graphics card
Graphic cards, also commonly referred to as Video Cards, accepts information form the computer and translate it into a format that can be displayed on a monitor screen.To display images correctly on your monitor you need a graphics card. These are usually PCI or the more recent AGP type. AGP offers several advantages over PCI in speed of information processed. Graphics cards also have their own memory (RAM) and should be a minimum of 8Mb but this increase to GBs with increasing cost.
Sound card
A sound card accepts digital information from the system and converts it into a signal that is transmitted to a speaker to produce an audio output.For multimedia systems requiring stereo sound, MPC-2 compliance and sound blaster compatibility is recommended. The sound and video standards are changing. The latest sound card option now include what is called a wave table with 4MB of RAM to be able to store and playback common sounds. Sound cards come in a variety of interfaces. They range from 16-, 32, and 64, bit sound, they have either an ISA interface or a PCI interface it the best for better quality sound and more capabilities.
Network Interface Cards (NICs)
A network interface card (NIC), enables a computer system to exchange information with other systems on a local network. The speedof the network and the type of technology help determine what type of NIC card is required. The most comman is Ethernet. Which normally has an RJ-45 type connecter to allow it to connect to local network.
Speakers
To be able to hear the fantastic sounds that came out of your sound card you will need a set of multimedia computer speakers. Speakers range in price from $15 too as much as $500. Some of the expensive speakers come with a sub woofer to make effects like surround sound.
Serial port
The system should have the 16550A UART controller if an external modem is going to be attached. This will allow for high-speed communication up to 115kbps when using an external modem.
Keyboard
keyboard is a device that enables the end user to enter information into the computer. The keyboard should be comfortable for the user and should support the standard keys. Virtually all keyboards today support the 101-or 104-keys keyboard came in either straight or ergonomically correct style. The ergonomically correct keyboards look like they have broken in have attempted to put back together with a big space in the middle.
Mouse
mouse is an input device, which enables the user select items displayed on the monitor. The system should have support for the PS/2 or bus style mouse, rather than a serial mouse. This leaves the serial port free for other uses. Microsoft now has an Intelli-mouse has a little wheel located in between the left and right buttons. As you rotate the wheel documents, web pages, etc. will scroll. There
Are also selections of cordless mouse.
Parallel port
The system should support the enhanced parallel port (EPP) standard, if an external device is going to be attached to the parallel port. This will allow for faster communications when using the parallel port for such things as a printer, an external tape backup or external CD-ROM device.
USB (Universal Serial Bus)
This is basically an extension of Plug and play for external devices. It will provide a 12Mbps high-speed controller to link up as many as 63 external digital devices such as mice, modems, telephone systems, or additional computers. Devices may be added or removed “on the fly” without powering down the system. Many current machines are being built with a universal serial bus, but this is not being advertised or mentioned. A USB peripheral allows you to connect a range of accessories, such as, a video camera or gamepad.
Modem
Modems enable computers to connect to remote networks like Internet. Modems encode digital information onto an analog carrier signal that is carried across analog network like public telephone network.
Modems are devices that allow for communication with other computers over a phone line. They can be used to call other computer to allow for access the Internet. Fastest modems go are 56k. The reason for this is the normal phone lines can only provide a maximum of 53k of data transfer over a normal phone line V.90 is the most recognized standard in modem today.
CD-ROM drives
These allow you to read the information form CD-ROM. They are rated at the speed over the standard music CD player. 40x mean at 40times the standard speed. CD drives can also have a written on the disk and read later.
Operating systems
Windows 95
The original Windows 95 was designed as more or less a transition operating system to move users from the older, slower 16-bit application to the newer, more powerful 32-bit software application.
Window 98
This is the newest in a line of graphical interface operating systems that provide the newest and more multimedia and Internet support. 32-bit operating system like window 95 and although it is marketed as a new operating system, in reality it is more or less a bug-fix for windows 95 with a few new bells and whistles in thrown in. updates for this version are done mainly by logging on the Internet with your PC and choosing window update icon in the start menu/programs option.
Windows me
Another 32-bit operating system likes Windows 95 and widow 98. Me is targeted at the home user and includes improvements to the reliability and ease of use of window 98. There are some also some enhanced features
Windows 2000
A true multitasking, multi threaded 32-bit operating system. It combines the best features of windows 98 with the security manageability and reliability of Windows NT.
Windows XP
Windows XP is the successor to both Windows 2000 Professional and Windows Me. Developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, home and business desktops, notebook computers, and media centers. The name "XP" stands for Experience . First released on October 25, 2001.
The most common editions of the operating system are Windows XP Home Edition, which is targeted at home users, and Windows XP Professional, which has additional features such as support for Windows Server domains and two physical processors, and is targeted at power users and business clients. Windows XP Media Center Edition has additional multimedia features enhancing the ability to record and watch TV shows, view DVD movies, and listen to music. Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is designed to run ink-aware applications built using the Tablet PC platform. Two separate 64-bit versions of Windows XP were also released, Windows XP 64-bit Edition for IA-64 (Titanium) processors and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition for x86-64.
Windows Vista
Windows Vista was released after five years from the release of Windows XP.Which was the longest time span between successive release of Microsoft Windows.
Windows Vista contains many changes and new features, including an updated graphical user interface and visual style dubbed Windows Aero, improved searching features, new multimedia creation tools such as Windows DVD Maker, and redesigned networking, audio, print, and display sub-systems. Vista also aims to increase the level of communication between machines on a home network, using peer-to-peer technology to simplify sharing files and digital media between computers and devices. Windows Vista includes version 3.0 of the .NET Framework, which aims to make it significantly easier for software developers to write applications than with the traditional Windows API.
Linux / unix
Free, 32 - bit, multitasking, Unix-based operating system. Computer Terminology.
