Buying A Computer WrapUp

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Buying A Computer Wrap-Up

• Business Procedures
• Fall 2007

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• All computers, whether its a laptop or a desktop
  have four key components
• CPU
• Hard drive
• Memory (RAM)
• Video

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Processor speed

• Every PC has a processor, or CPU (central
  processing unit), which is considered the brains
  of the computer. In years past, there wasnt much
  one needed to know about the CPU when buying a
  PC, and there werent many choices to make.
  Nowadays, however, purchasing a CPU has become
  much more complicated. Making a wise decision can
  dramatically improve your computing experience.
  Lets explore what you need to know to make an
  intelligent decision in purchasing a PC these
  days, whether its a desktop or laptop.

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• In the good old days, there was an almost perfect
  correlation between the clock speed of the
  processor and its performance. For example, a
  16MHz processor was pretty close to twice as fast
  as an 8MHz processor. Intels co-founder Gordon
  Moore predicted in 1965 that the number of
  transistors that could be placed in a computer
  chip (which also approximated the performance of
  a processor) would double every year.

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What is Moores Law?
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• In 1975 (six years before the first IBM PC
  appeared on the scene), Moore changed the
  prediction to once every two years Moores Law,
  as it is called, guided the industry for many
  generations of computer chips. Life was simple.
  Power users bought a new PC every two years as
  processor performance doubled. Novices bought
  whatever speed processor they could afford.

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Moores Law
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• Fast forward to 2007. There are more choices than
  ever before, but purchasing a PC is anything but
  simple. There seem to be endless varieties of
  processors, and decisions that were once obvious
  are now more complex. Dual-core or basic single
  core? 32-bit or 64-bit? 3.0GHz or 1.6GHz? Intel
  or AMD? Celeron, Sempron, Turion, Athlon,
  Pentium, or Core 2 Duo?

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• The most important decision to be made when
  buying a computer is processor speed.
• This is also the most expensive decision to make
• Processor speed is the single most important
  component to drive price
• The faster the processor speed, the higher the
  computer price

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Understanding Hard Drives

• We often take hard drives for granted. Install
  programs, uninstall programs. Save a file, open a
  file. Its simplewhat more is there to consider?
  In fact, hard drives are incredibly intricate and
  delicate pieces of machinery. And theyre
  integral to almost every computer system
  operating today.
• From Smart Computing

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Whats the difference between a laptop
processor and a desk top processor?
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Heat and Energy

• A laptop uses less energy and generates less
  heat.
• For this reason, a laptop tends to run at a
  slower speed than a desktop.
• Laptops are great for portability. However, most
  business that require high speed processor
  applications do not use laptops as primary
  computing tools.

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Whats the Difference Between a PC and an Apple
(i-Mac?)

• Apples now use the same type of processors
  typical Microsoft Windows based machines use
  (Core Duo). There is a lot of compatibility now,
  and programs are somewhat interchangeable.
  Modern Apple computers can run both OS X, Windows
  XP, Windows Vista and even Linux. However,
  Windows based machines cannot run OS X, because
  Apple does not allow it.
• Previously, there was not as good availability of
  computer applications for an Apple as there was
  for a Windows based machine. Today, programs are
  more interchangeable.
• Component for component, Apples remain the
  premium computer, and are more expensive overall.
  This is because Apple controls computer
  component specifications and for the most part is
  the sole manufacturer of their components.
  Whereas, Windows based machines are manufactured
  by many companies (economies of scale).
• Apples are harder to come by were they on Best
  Buy or Walmart.com?

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What is a Hard Drive?

• IBMs first hard drive, invented in 1956,
  consisted of 50 stacked platters and a robotic
  control arm. Each platter measured 24 inches in
  diameter and combined for a total capacity of
  just 5MB. Since then, hard drive technology has
  changed immeasurably, but the underlying concept
  has remained the same.

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• Hard drives are permanent storage devices,
  meaning they retain data even when drawing no
  power. Theyre also nonremovable, meaning the
  disk is inseparable from the drive mechanism,
  unlike a floppy or optical drive. Note that
  nonremovable isnt the same as nonportable or
  exclusively internal. Plenty of hard drives are
  neither.

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• Within each drive are multiple platters and
  heads magnetized platters store electronically
  coded information and are written to and read by
  moving heads as the CPU tells the drive
  controller what data it needs from which location
  on the platter(s).

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Memory

• Computer memory usually isn't simply referred to
  as memory. Generally speaking, these terms come
  and go. Some become obsolete (or worn out), and
  some new ones may crop up. Typically, the
  advances to memory are the speed at which they
  operate. Honestly, the only places you see these
  terms are in ads. In the real world, even
  engineers just call it RAM or memory!
• From Buying a Computer for Dummies, 2006

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• The standard for RAM used to be 512K
• The new minimums are 1GB for Microsoft Vista and
  OS X
• The amount of RAM will depend on the operating
  system
• For example, the new Windows Vista which comes
  pre-loaded on computers will run with just 512K
  (just slow!)

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What is Memory?

• Data storage is one of the most important and
  complicated functions of a computer. This is why
  memory is a necessity in terms of computers.
  Understanding all the complicated jargon and
  hardware involved with temporary and permanent
  storage is a necessary and complicated task, as
  well. We've compiled some of the most common
  questions about memory to help you understand
  some of the inner workings of your system.
  by Dean Kent

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• Q What is the speed of my memory?
• A Even though some manufacturers will include
  the speed of the chips in part of the name, some
  will not (most notably, Hyundai and LGS). The
  only reliable way to determine this is to locate
  the manufacturer's data sheet and look up the
  specs.

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• Q Are there different kinds of memory?
• A All memory chips store data in cells that the
  system accesses by row and column coordinates (or
  addresses), but different kinds of memory vary in
  speed, density, and configuration. They also vary
  in their features.

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Binary, Bit, Byte

• Binary number system - uses only two digits
• 0 (zero) and 1 (one)
• Eight binary digits grouped together represent a
  single number or letter
• Each 0 or 1 in the binary code is a bit (BInary
  digiT)
• Each group of 8 (8-bit unit) is a byte

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• Q What are a byte, kilobyte, and megabyte?
• A Eight bits combined together make a byte and
  represent a single character. There are 1,024
  bytes is a kilobyte (KB), and 1,024KB makes a
  megabyte (MB).

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• Q How is data stored in a memory chip?
• A A memory chip contains thousands or even
  millions of cells. Each cell may be in one of two
  states (usually represented as a 0 or a 1) and
  represents a single bit (a binary digit, either a
  1 or 0) of data. It is important to note that
  memory chips do not store bytes (see below) of
  data they store only bits. The memory controller
  keeps track of where the individual bits of the
  byte are stored, which may actually be in
  multiple chips.

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An application makes my computer run very slowly

• Cause If an application causes the computer
  system to run very slowly, your computer does not
  have enough CPU or memory power to manage the
  application or the multiple applications that you
  might have open at the moment.

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• The Pain Killer
• Check the minimum requirements for the
  application and make sure your computer meets (or
  exceeds!) them. Some applications, especially
  graphics applications, are very resource
  intensive and your computer must have enough
  power to keep up. Also, when you run the
  particular application, make sure all other
  programs are closed. This will give your computer
  more resources with which to run the application.

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• Q How is chip speed measured?
• A Memory-chip speed is measured in nanoseconds
  (ns), which is one-billionth of a second. To
  illustrate how fast that is, a nanosecond is to
  one second what a second is to 31.8 years. Not
  all memory chips are measured in the same way,
  however, so you may not be able to directly
  compare speeds.

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• Q What is the difference between RAM and ROM?
• A As the name implies, you cannot write to
  read-only memory your system can only read it
  during normal operation. The computer
  manufacturer preprograms the data the data will
  remain intact without any power.

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• Random-access memory allows the CPU to read and
  write information at any time. This information
  is erased, however, when you turn the system's
  power off.

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• Q What does a computer use ROM for?
• A When you power on a computer, it needs to load
  the system-initialization program from a known
  location. Early PCs required the operator to
  manually set the device address. However, this
  data is now stored in the complementary
  metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) or is at a fixed
  location. In the PC, the location is an address
  within a ROM chip called the Basic Input/Output
  System (BIOS, a special piece of software that
  controls the startup process of a computer and
  other basic functions).

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• Q How does RAM operate?
• A All memories have the same basic operation but
  variations exist. In general, signals sent on the
  Row Address Selector (RAS) and Column Address
  Selector (CAS) pins select a specific cell. For a
  read operation, the cell goes into an output
  buffer and then onto the associated output pin. A
  write operation would take the signal from the
  appropriate input pin and set the value of the
  cell accordingly.

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To make it easier

• The heart knows to beat without the brain
  reminding it every beat. That is like ROM.
• You know the directions to get to Phillips Arena,
  but you will forget over time. That is like RAM.
• RAM moves things out over time to make room for
  new things like directions to other places or
  to remember peoples names.

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The last componentVideo

• Video CardThe video card is a circuit board that
  transforms your data into a viewable image on the
  monitor. On todays computers there are two
  platforms for video processing integrated
  graphics and an independent graphics processing
  unit (GPU). There is a large range in performance
  and a large range in price. High end video cards
  are required for the latest gaming software,
  graphics design, and computer aided design
  applications. For most computer users today,
  between 32 and 64 megabytes is sufficient while
  for gamers and designers single and even dual
  GPUs with 512 megabyte to 1 gigabyte of memory
  is standard.

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• High end video cards are required for the latest
  gaming software, graphics design, and computer
  aided design applications. For most computer
  users today, between 32 and 64 megabytes is
  sufficient while for gamers and designers single
  and even dual GPUs with 512 megabyte to 1
  gigabyte of memory is standard.

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• Computer manufacturers choose to integrate
  graphics in order to keep system prices down.
  Approximately 90 of desktops and laptops today
  have integrated graphics using shared memory.

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So Whats Important When Buying a Computer for a
Small Business?

• Buy the fastest possible chip (processor) you can
  afford.
• In a laptop, it is very difficult to swap out the
  CPU to upgrade it. It is easier (and often
  cheaper) to purchase a new laptop
• Buy as much memory (RAM) as possible
• Buy as much hard drive space as possible
• In a small business, lots of files will need to
  be stored. However, hard drives are easily and
  inexpensively upgraded.

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Whats Next?