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Computer Buying FAQ
First and foremost when it comes to buying a computer or computer part you need figure out exactly what you want the computer for. For example if you just want a computer for surfing the internet and e-mail you don't need to buy a $1,600 computer. But on the second hand if you decide you want to play some video games you shouldn't get a $300 computer. There are many different brands out there. Personnel I feel going to a local shop is the best thing to do. Most places are very informative and you can usually get a computer with everything you need for the price you want. Well anyway here are some FAQ question people have about computer purchases.
What is the difference between USB 1.1, USB 2.0, and Firewire (IEEE 1394)?
What these are, in a nutshell the are just ports on your computer for plugging in accessories such as digital camera, printers, web cams, and all other sorts of goodies. The difference between USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 is speed. USB 1.1 has a transfer rate of 12 Mbps (Megabits Per Second) and 2.0 is 480 Mbps. They both has the same exactly plug so you can hook one into the other. They are also both backwards compatible. This mean you can plug a USB 1.1 device into a USB 2.0 port or visa versa and it will work. The only limitation is it will work at the lower speed which in this case would be 12Mbps. Now firewire is just a different plug altogether. It original came out for use with digital camcorders and external hard drives. Item you need fast transfer rate with. Firewire transfer data at 400 Mbps. This is faster then USB 1.1, but since USB 2.0 came out many companies now make their device compatible with firewire and USB 2.0 and firewire is slowly being phased out. One additional note with USB you can attach 127 device to one port and with firewire you can attach 63.
How much RAM does my computer need?
The simple answer to that is 256MB (Mega Bytes), but that is the bare minimum. In order to run Windows XP Microsoft suggest at least 256MB of RAM. However the more RAM you have the faster your computer will be able to process information. I would suggest at least 512MB. This would allow you to surf the net listen to music and download a file all at the same time with minimal problems.
What is a monitor dot pitch?
Dot pitch is how far apart the pixels are on a monitor. The measurement for this is 1/100ths of a millimeter dots of the same color are away from each other. The the lower the number the better the picture.
How do I choose the right video card for me?
First off when shopping for a video card you need to think about what you are using the computer for. If you are just doing school work and email you do not need the top of the line card. Now if you want to play "shoot everybody in sight" video games you will need a card with some kick. Basically just like RAM the more memory the fast it will be. A 128MB card will work just fine for most users. Some can even get away with 64MB but good luck trying to watch a video or pay a game. Now a gaming system will most likely need a 256MB card to play most newer games. This also goes for people that want to do any video editing. You may be able to get away with 128MB but 256MB would be better.
What size hard drive you I need?
Once again it comes back to what you need the computer for. Nowadays it would be hard to find a computer with a less than 40gig hard drive. That size is fine if you want a internet and school computer. If you are planning on editing home videos you might want a larger hard drive. Keep in mind most word document are around 10kb (kilobytes) and a home movie can be well over a gig.
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