( 
)Buying a computer... What a decision to make. This guide is to help you out on some troubling questions many people have that blocks them from getting a computer.
First of all buying a computer whole and building a computer from parts are two separate things pricewise. If you buy it whole the manufacturer is going to charge you even more to build it for you so it's actually more expensive to buy it whole than to build it. If you build it you have to put in more fans and that's just the way building is from buying it whole.
You may realize now that if every program has a larger or smaller share of RAM then there may not be enough of the Scratch Pad to go around. That's true and that's where larger RAM comes in but it depends on your use of the computer. Windows XP itself takes up about 215MB or more of RAM but Vista takes about 512MB to an entire 1000MB not including programs. Are you a gamer... Games can take up as much as 512MB to a gig (1000 MB). Just typing... Your cut some slack.
All computers use Vista now so if you ever plan to use anything but notepad or faster startups (From VERY slow 5-10min startups) then I suggest 2GB of RAM - Gaming would be 4GB.You actually have over 30 programs running on your computer just by itself and their called processes.
A Hard Drive is more simpler than RAM that applies to buying it to. There are a few terms in buying a Hard Drive and here are the important terms.
Get 50GB+ for inputting text and working with spreadsheets etc... 100GB+ for gaming 200GB+ for serious gaming.
First of all buying a computer whole and building a computer from parts are two separate things pricewise. If you buy it whole the manufacturer is going to charge you even more to build it for you so it's actually more expensive to buy it whole than to build it. If you build it you have to put in more fans and that's just the way building is from buying it whole.
The RAM... In English
The first step to buying a computer or parts is the RAM. RAM stands for Random Access Memory or in English (Temporary Memory). It acts like a big scratch pad that erases itself and starts over every restart. That scratch pad keeps all kinds of numbers and stuff on it that's not important enough to keep permanently. You don't realize it but everything on your computer has a share of the RAM some larger and some smaller.You may realize now that if every program has a larger or smaller share of RAM then there may not be enough of the Scratch Pad to go around. That's true and that's where larger RAM comes in but it depends on your use of the computer. Windows XP itself takes up about 215MB or more of RAM but Vista takes about 512MB to an entire 1000MB not including programs. Are you a gamer... Games can take up as much as 512MB to a gig (1000 MB). Just typing... Your cut some slack.
All computers use Vista now so if you ever plan to use anything but notepad or faster startups (From VERY slow 5-10min startups) then I suggest 2GB of RAM - Gaming would be 4GB.You actually have over 30 programs running on your computer just by itself and their called processes.
The Hard drive... Forever in Eternity
The hard drive.... Down to the permanent memory. Here's something you probably didn't know. The HD (Hard Drive) contains data that lasts forever. When you delete something off of your computer it deleted from the Table of contents off of the Hard Drive but not off of the Hard Drive. It's impossible to delete something off of a Hard Drive like taking a magnet and making it not a magnet. But enough about that...A Hard Drive is more simpler than RAM that applies to buying it to. There are a few terms in buying a Hard Drive and here are the important terms.
- Buffer - Is a chip in the Hard Drive that the HD crams all the data into before writing it. (Higher Buffer = Faster HD)
- RPM (Rotates per minute) - Basically like a car Higher = Faster and works well with buffer
- Capacity (Size, Amount Hold) sometimes in MB or GB. 1 GB is Aprox. 1,000 MB but not exactly 1000.
Get 50GB+ for inputting text and working with spreadsheets etc... 100GB+ for gaming 200GB+ for serious gaming.
The Processor... Passing it on
The Processor is a heart, a heart that pumps the information through the computer. A heart with up to 2000 valves. It's important that you get one that's large especially with Vista. 32-bit for basic computer use and 64-bit to step it up some if you think you need it especially for gamers. As long as it fit's in the 32-bit or 64-bit category just get one that suits and fits your budget since that heart can be very expensive.
The Video Card
It sounds kind of odd. Video card... It's exactly how it sounds, A chip (card) that fit's into your computer and displays video. There are actually many different types of cards. PCI is the best kind of card because you can change it out if your not happy or upgrade it, it's fast, and it's pretty much everything you want..
You should buy one that has in your price range but make sure it has the right resolution (dpi or Dots per inch) basically in english it how small (more roomy) or how large (less roomy) the text and pictures are on your computer. In the olden days 640x480 was the largest and default resolution. Now it's moved to 800x600. That's what everybody is comfortable with, easy to read and just the right size.
If you have a CRT monitor (The fat monitor) you can get the common 800x600 resolution, if you have a flat screen you can forget that. Flat screen's are stubborn and usually demand 1600x1200 resolution which makes it really hard to read the text. Switch to lower resolution on flat screen and it get's a little blurry. Also if you have a flat screen you have to have clear type font setting to make the words appear correct. That's a hassle.
You should buy one that has in your price range but make sure it has the right resolution (dpi or Dots per inch) basically in english it how small (more roomy) or how large (less roomy) the text and pictures are on your computer. In the olden days 640x480 was the largest and default resolution. Now it's moved to 800x600. That's what everybody is comfortable with, easy to read and just the right size.
If you have a CRT monitor (The fat monitor) you can get the common 800x600 resolution, if you have a flat screen you can forget that. Flat screen's are stubborn and usually demand 1600x1200 resolution which makes it really hard to read the text. Switch to lower resolution on flat screen and it get's a little blurry. Also if you have a flat screen you have to have clear type font setting to make the words appear correct. That's a hassle.
Extra's
DVD Drive reads: Most all discs
CD-ROM Drive: Reads only CD's not recorded discs
CD-R Drives: Reads All CD's and can write once on them
CD-RW Drives: Reads all CD's and can write once or multiple times
DVD-R and DVD-RW, DVD-R+DL drives same as above
Find one in your budjet and needs
I hope you found the info you were looking for. As eBay policy I can't list my email information here but contact me if you have further questions on my eBay world page (where you found this guide) and I'll update them here.
Be sure top rate this guide and comment on this if possible.
Much Appriciated,
Wiseguy12851
CD-ROM Drive: Reads only CD's not recorded discs
CD-R Drives: Reads All CD's and can write once on them
CD-RW Drives: Reads all CD's and can write once or multiple times
DVD-R and DVD-RW, DVD-R+DL drives same as above
Find one in your budjet and needs
I hope you found the info you were looking for. As eBay policy I can't list my email information here but contact me if you have further questions on my eBay world page (where you found this guide) and I'll update them here.
Be sure top rate this guide and comment on this if possible.
Much Appriciated,
Wiseguy12851
Guide created: 03/13/08
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