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Desktop Computers Basics

Buying a desktop computer doesn't have to be a daunting task. Most top computer brands including Dell, Apple, Toshiba, Gateway, Sun, and HP come pre-built with everything you need to get started right out of the box.

We've grouped desktop computer users into three categories to help you decide which desktop computer will be best for you. As you're shopping, be sure to consider the warranty, included software and upgradeability of each system. Also, computer systems come in many sizes and shapes. Be sure that the footprint and height of your computer and monitor will fit comfortably within your workspace.

Home or Small Business Users

The typical home or small business computer user needs a desktop computer for running basic applications, browsing the internet and e-mail, viewing and editing photos, and managing MP3 files. The specifications and added features will vary depending on what kinds of tasks you'll need your computer to perform, but the following recommendations should be able to handle all of your basic needs with no trouble.

Students

There are plenty of desktops on the market that balance performance with affordability. Consider these cost-trimming choices if you're on a budget. You'll sacrifice a little speed, but you won't break the bank.

Gamers, Graphic Designers & Video Editors

If you're a serious gamer be prepared to spend a little more on your computer to keep up with ever-evolving graphics technologies. Shop for a top-notch processor, plenty of hard drive space, good graphics and sound cards, and a monitor large enough for you to really enjoy your gaming experience.

If you're a graphic artist or video editor, you'll need all of those features as well, but you may want to consider shopping for an Apple Macintosh computer instead of a PC. Macs are much more common than PCs in the graphics industries because they do a better job of handling colors and fonts and tend to require less maintenance and support.

Important Terms

Central Processing Unit
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the brain of your computer. It determines how fast your computer performs tasks and its speed is measured in MHz (million) or GHz (billion) per second. Two popular manufacturers of processors are AMD and Intel.

Available Intel Computer Processors:



Available AMD Computer Processors:



If you're planning to use your desktop computer for intense graphics work or video editing, shop for a "dual-processor system". As the name suggests, dual processor systems include two processors for maximum speed. Both AMD and Intel offer dual processors or dual-core processors (single chips with multiple processing cores). Many gamer desktops use hyper-threading technology.

GB and MB
GB stands for "gigabytes" and MB stands for "megabytes". They're the measurements used for both computer memory and hard drive size. There are 1,000 MB in 1 GB. So a 100 GB hard drive has one thousand times the capacity of a 100 MB hard drive.

Hard Drive
The hard drive is the primary storage area for your desktop computer. It's where the operating system and program data are stored. Hard drive capacity is measured in GB and MB.

Installed Memory or Random Access Memory
Random Access Memory (RAM) provides temporary data storage for quick retrieval and is measured in MB (megabytes). The more RAM your desktop computer has the faster it will perform. Some software programs require a certain amount of installed memory for maximum performance. If you know what software programs you'll be using, check to see how much installed memory they require before buying your desktop computer.

Sound Card Type
The sound card controls the communication between your computer and its speakers. A higher bit sound card will deliver better sound quality to your speakers. If you're planning to use your desktop for listening to music or watching movies, you'll need a good sound card. If you're buying new computer speakers separately, make sure they are compatible with your sound card.

Video Card Type or Graphics Controller
The video card powers the communication between your CPU and monitor. Having a good video card will be important to you if you want to run graphics programs and games. A good video card will allow your monitor to display crisp text and true colors, and will reduce eyestrain. Also, game graphics are becoming more enhanced so you'll need a powerful video card for optimum performance. The two main manufacturers of high-end video cards are ATI and NVIDIA. Expect to pay more for quality - a really good video card can cost as much as an entire entry-level computer.

Drive Type
Drive type refers to what kind of media you can read from and record to. CD and DVD drives are the most common, they allow you to read music and data from CDs and DVDs. CD and DVD burners allow you to record data and play it back so you can archive important files or make copies of music or movies.

CD drives are commonly called "Read Only", "CD-R" or "CD-RW". A "Read Only" drive allows you to play music, movies or data from a CD but doesn't allow you to record. In "CD-R" the "R" stands for recordable, which means you can record or "burn" information onto a blank CD-R disc. In "CD-RW" the "RW" stands for re-writable, which means you can erase and re-record information onto a CD-RW disc. CD-RW discs often have trouble being read by music CD players, so if you're only planning to record music you should stick with the CD-R format.

DVDs have greater storage capacity than CDs and also use the terms "Read Only", "R" and "RW" but "RW" is a little more confusing in their case because there isn't a single standard for recordable DVDs yet. There are currently "+RW" and "-RW" DVD formats available so be sure to buy the right kind of disc for your DVD drive. Some drives can handle both "+RW" and "-RW" formats and are often listed like this: "DVD±RW".

Dedicated Servers
A "dedicated server" refers to a computer that is dedicated to only one purpose, such as running a single application. Dedicated servers can be crucial to the success of a business that needs to house multiple websites, by freeing up space and allowing their systems to operate more efficiently.

Network Storage Servers
Network storage servers are for long-term information storage, such as system back-ups and data archives.

Bare Bones Computer
Bare bones computer systems are good if you prefer to build your own computer or if you already have some computer parts on hand and you don't want to buy a complete system. Barebones computers generally come with a few essentials such as RAM, a motherboard, and a CPU. Building a computer from a bare bones system can be a complex and technical project. If you're a novice, buying yourself a bare bones computer isn't a wise choice.

Servers
A server is a computer that shares information with or manages tasks for other computers over a network. Severs allow you to host your own websites and manage your network resources and files.

Terminal Stations
Terminal stations are good for companies that need multiple people to connect to a single computer for web use or desktop applications. A terminal workstation doesn't run its own programs, so it often consists of only the basic devices, like a keyboard and monitor. It relies on the host or mainframe computer to function. Terminal stations are also sometimes called "dumb" terminals.