Buying a new computer is a major purchasing decision. It is important to know the specifications of the computer you're considering and your own requirements before making a purchase.
Central Processing Unit
Part of a computer's processing power is determined by its Central Processing Unit, or CPU. A CPU's speed is a combination of its clock speed, which is measured in megahertz (Mhz), and the size of its cache, which is measured in kilobytes (KB) or megabytes (MB). Look for a computer with a processor that has the highest amount clock speed and cache size you can afford.
Random Access Memory
Random Access Memory (RAM) is the other major component of a computer's processing power and speed. Having a high amount of RAM allows a computer to operate smoothly with several programs and processes running simultaneously. RAM is measured in megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB).
Operating System
The operating system of a computer will determine what features and programs you will be able to use. The two most common operating system types are Windows and Macintosh. Choose a computer with the operating system you are most familiar with to increase ease of use.
Tags: operating system, Access Memory, Central Processing, Central Processing Unit, clock speed, computer processing