Selecting a Computer

before you start

Have you ever bought your own computer? Do you remember the factors that affected your choice? Reflect on that experience as you make your way through this lesson.

1. Decisions, Decisions

At some point, it may be your responsibility to buy a computer or even a network of computers. You might manage a team of people at work where your staff needs more modern devices to effectively do their jobs. Maybe you need a personal computer at home to manage your finances or healthcare needs. You may already own a decent computer but simply need a better one for deeper computing, like rendering 3D models or playing online games.

There is a multitude of computers on the market and each is designed to meet a specific user need. With so many options, selecting the most appropriate computer can be a daunting task. Your first step is to identify why you need the computer and what you'll use it for.

EXAMPLE

Suppose that you're interested in developing 3D models for designing online video games. In this case, you'll need a very specific system configuration requiring a fast processor (at least 3 gHZ), around 500GB of storage, a high-level video card with rendering capability (ideally with its own processor), and as much RAM as you can afford, but no less than 8GB.

To be literate with computer technology, it's important that you can assess your application and then make a determination as to how (or even if) a computer can solve the problems or opportunities that you face. Lastly, be sure to assess the longevity of the hardware and software you're about to purchase so your system doesn't become obsolete before you're ready.

2. Factors Affecting Computer Performance and Cost

The overall performance speed of a computer is determined by many elements, some related to hardware and some related to software. In hardware, speed is improved by giving the electrons shorter distances to traverse to complete a circuit. Since the first CPU was created in the early 1970s, engineers have constantly worked to figure out how to shrink these circuits and put more and more circuits onto the same chip. And this work has paid off — the speed of computing devices has been continuously improving ever since. The hardware components that most contribute to the overall performance speed of a personal computer are the CPU, the motherboard, RAM, and the hard disk (even more so if you need a high-performance computer). In most cases, these items can be replaced with newer, faster components. In the case of RAM, simply adding more RAM can also speed up the computer.

did you know

Not all desktop PCs have the same size and shape. Most system units are towers, sitting upright on their shortest side with drive bays perpendicular to the tower’s longest side. The original desktop featured the system unit resting flat on its longest side with drive bays parallel to its longest side.

did you know

The first tablet computers used an attached pen as a writing device for input.

3. Recipe for Buying a Computer

With respect to your computing needs, it may be the case that one type of computer may serve you better than another. As you are planning to purchase a computer, it is important to consider its portability, screen size, processing speed, and data input.

3a. Portability

Portability refers to how easily a type of computer can be moved or transported. If you need a computer at home, at work, or while traveling, a portable device would be more suitable than a desktop computer. In such cases, you would likely consider purchasing a laptop or an ultrabook, as these machines offer good processing power and portability. Depending on your specific needs, a tablet or a convertible 2-in-1 device, which combines the functionality of a laptop and a tablet, might also be well-suited to your situation. Google Chromebooks are another option that offers a lightweight, portable, and cost-effective solution for many computing tasks.

term to know

Portability

How easily a computer can be transported.

3b. Screen Size

If you will be working with video/photo data or you plan on looking at the screen for long periods of time, then screen size should be an important consideration. A desktop computer provides room for a screen as large as you would like but remember that a desktop computer is not portable. A tablet PC is portable, but provides a very small screen size and generally is not a good computer choice for editing video, photos, or for working in situations in which you will be viewing the screen for extended periods of time.

term to know

Screen Size

The length of the monitor, typically the diagonal measured in inches.

3c. Processing Speed

A computer’s processing is one of the factors that has a direct impact on the speed with which the system performs. Processing speed refers to the amount of clock cycles a processor can perform in a second. The greater your computer’s processing speed, the more instructions can be processed per second. If you run graphics-intensive or data-intensive programs, produce multimedia content, or use your computer for gaming, you will need a large processing capability. The data that you are going to primarily work with is also of great consideration when buying a computer. If you plan on working with multimedia content, you will want a computer with a large screen, graphics accelerators, HDMI inputs, thunderbolt inputs, etc.

term to know

Processing Speed

Amount of clock cycles a processor can perform in a second, measured in hertz.