Processor----What is it?
The brain of the PC. You don’t always have to go for the fastest. And just having a processor that’s fast won’t do. The rest of the system has to keep up with it.
What’s available?
Among the low-end ones available are Celeron, AMD K6.2 and K6-3, and now AMD'S Duron. They are available in different clock speeds-go for the one you can afford. Among the high-end processors are Pentium 4 and AMD’s 2400+ XP, P4 2 GHz and more.
Also remember that a processor alone can’t make the PC zip. For instance, A P4 on an 845 motherboard that doesn’t have much graphics capability isn’t of much use.
How much do you need?
If you are going to work on office application like word processors and spreadsheets, and some browsing, a Celeron or an AMD K6 series, AMD XP 2200 would do. For work that needs more processing power you have to go for a Pentium 4 2GHz or more an AMD XP 2400+ and more. You’ll find some Pentium IIIs in the market but Intel Doesn’t makes them anymore.
Hard Disk---What is it?
This is the place where all your program and data will b stored on the PC. Your PC’s performance will depend upon the rate at which your hard disk can read data and give it to the other parts. The speed of a hard disk is measured in rpm. These days most hard disks come with a speed of 7200 rpm. And some other available in hard disk 20GB, 40GB, 80 GB, and for more on how to take care of your hard disk, check out The Hard Disk Guide at
http://thepcyoubuy.com/01042004.htm
How much do you need?
Most PCs now come with 40 GB of hard disk space. With fat OSs and fatter office suites and games, you’ll need some bit of space. 40 GB is quite common, now even 1000 GB doesn’t raise eyebrows. So do take those offers of GB's with a huge bag of salt.
RAM---What is it?
The place where information is stored for a while so that the processor doesn’t have to keep hunting for it on the hard disk.
What’s available?
The more you have the better it is. A lot of PCs still come with 128 MB RAM-we advise you to go for 256MB at the very least. If you’re a gamer or into heavy graphics, you’ll need more than 256 MB.Nowadays, DDR RAM is available for faster output.
Video RAM---What is it?
This is a card that carries out the processing for all that’s related to the display. You could have a fast processor, lots of ROM and hard disk that keeps pace with it all. But if the display can’t match all this-the speed at which the things have got processed will take ages to show up on screen. The card has its RAM- called video RAM (VRAM).
What’s available?
As we said earlier, some motherboards have this function inbuilt, but others need you to have a graphics card for this. You get a range of cards now.
How much do you need?
If you’re into heavy gaming and graphics and CAD and 3D modeling, you need to have a card with at least 16 MB VRAM, 32MB if you can afford it. For other purpose, 16 MB VRAM is good enough.
All software comes on CDs. A lot of computers magazines that teach you how to use computers come with CDs. So a CD-ROM drive is a must. Now you have the option of going for CD-RW drives or even DVD drives. And some vendors have the check to see PCs without them.
Higher X ratings-such as 48X, 52X for a CD drive doesn’t mean that the drive will run at blazing speeds. In fact for routine things opening a CD tray, making a CD auto run-an 8X will do just fine. But if you were to rip songs from your audio CDs to convert them into MP3s you would need a faster drive.
A DVD drive is great if you are going to be watching a lot of movies on your PC- but make sure video card and sound card and speakers match up to it.Go for a CD-RW drive if you are going to be burning a lot of CDs-keeping backups, making MP3 CDs, and so on.
The basic PC:
For running productivity applications: word processors, spreadsheet, presentations, Surfing. Using e-mail, using personal information mangers. Play music and videos, some light games and multimedia CDs
Specs:
•AMD XP 2200 or above/AMD K6 series or Duron 550 MHz or above
•128 DDR MB RAM
•15” color SVGA monitor
•20-40GB ATA/66 hard disk with 7200 RPM
•On board video abd sound
•52x CD-drive
•101-keys Keyboard
•3-button mouse
•56 kbps modem
The high-end PC
For heavy gaming, graphics, multimedia creation, sound editing.
Specs:
•Pentium IV 1700 MHz or higher clock/ AMD XP 2400+ and higherMHz or higher
•256 MB DDR RAM
•80 GB hard disk drive 7200
•video card with 64 MB VRAM
•101-keys keyboard
•on board sound (for those into sound editing and composing, a high-end sound card like Creative SoundBlaster Live is needed)
•19” monitor(Flat Panel or LCD)
•Optical Scroll mouse
•56 Kbps modem
