Thursday 6 January 2011

Computers - Motherboard, RAM And CPU

For those people looking to make their own computers, they might be overwhelmed by the sheer number of options and combinations available to them. However, you can save a lot of money making your own computer rather than purchasing a ready-made personal computers. Computers are made up over certain key components which should be considered first above all else, as they are like jigsaw pieces; only certain pieces fit with other pieces. Here are some tips to purchasing components for your computers.

Motherboard, RAM, Processor

A computer is made up of three core parts, excluding the case, power supply and a hard drive. These core parts allow everything else to function and once provided with power, the computer will turn on (though it won't get far without further information from the hard drive). They all play their own part in the functioning of the PC. The motherboard serves as a hub for the other components, but provides no performance boost of its own. Therefore, when choosing a motherboard, look for compatibility with newer components.

The central processing unit (CPU) is much easier to decide on. With your motherboard in mind, you'll be restricted to a single series of CPUs, such as the new i3, i5 and i7 processors from Intel. Choose one to fit your budget and performance needs, keeping in mind that it's not only processing speed which matters, but also how many cores are provided.

With multiple cores, the processor can easily deal with multiple streams of information, meaning it beats other, similarly-powered processors that have lesser cores. For those who wish to multitask, a multi-core processor is a must. For overall increased performance, also consider purchasing high-quality RAM.

RAM (Random Access Memory) performs as temporary memory for the rest of the computer. Unlike the hard drive, which is designed for large storage over a long period of time with slow access speeds, RAM is designed for small storage over a short period of time with very fast access speeds. This makes it ideal for storing important or regularly used information that the CPU needs to access quickly. Obviously, the higher the speed and storage space, the better the RAM.

Power Supply

The power supply provides power to the entire computer, including every components within. When utilizing smaller power supply units (PSUs), even an additional hard drive or optical drive can make all the difference and may even result in your personal computer not switching on. For a larger computer using multiple hard drives and multiple graphics cards, consider at least a 700w+ power supply with the necessary power cables to juice up such components.

Tag : computer,computer repair,cheap computer,CPU