Posts Tagged ‘RAM’

Things To Look For When You Are Buying a New Computer

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

new laptop

Hey, everyone, Josh from Computer Fitness back with another award-winning article to help you with your computer conundrums.

So you need a new computer? Well, it happens to all of us. Eventually our machines, even though they were once powerhouses, need to be replaced. Now, if you’ve been out of the game for a while, you might not know about everything you need to for today’s applications. Well, here are some things to look for when picking up or building a new computer.

Processor (CPU)

The CPU, or Processor, in a computer is what helps it perform most of its duties. The CPU allows the computer to solve equations, execute tasks, etc. The faster this is, the quicker programs will run. Now, for today’s applications, you want something in the Dual Core line with at least 2.5 GHz for each core. If you really want a screaming fast machine, go with a Quad Core at 3.0 GHz or more. The latter is good for gaming or advanced graphical work, while the former will be good for day to day processing without the need for upgrades in the near future.

Memory (RAM)

While the CPU helps to run programs, the RAM assists. RAM is temporary memory used to store the data needed to run programs. RAM holds the data and the CPU processes it. Now, you want at least 2GB of DRR2 RAM these days, though 4GB of DDR3 RAM would be better. Most operating systems will use up 1GB to start, so you’d already be 50% down with 2GB. Better to go with the 4GB, in my opinion.

Storage Space (Hard Drive)

Think of this like your brain’s long-term memory. You use the Hard Drive (HDD) to store data permanently. This is used to hold your operating system, photos, documents, etc. Bigger is better here, so go with at least 400 GB. Now, if you’ve embraced the digital age and frequently purchase games, movies, and music online, I’d recommend going with 1 TB for your HDD. You’ll avoid needing a backup soon, besides using multiple drives can get complex.

-Josh

Computer Fitness

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Posted in Hardware Overview, Mac and PC, PC | No Comments »

Avoid These Common Pitfalls When Building Your PC

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Hey, everyone. It’s Josh from Computer Fitness again. We are a Tech Support Company for Small and Medium businesses located in Reisterstown, MD.

So you want to build your own PC, huh? It’s an admirable goal to be sure. No more dealing with tech support and no wondering about the quality of the craftsmanship. It will be your machine. That’s all well and good, but building a PC isn’t something you want to rush into. It takes time to make sure you have all the details sorted out and the right parts required for successful assembly. Here are some suggestions for your journey to building a PC.

1)    Check the dimensions of your parts – It happens all the time. People will buy a lot of parts that look cool, only to realize they don’t fit in the case they bought or that their screaming new graphics card takes up 4 spaces.

2)    Double and Triple Check Socket Types – This is an especially important factor. When you purchase your CPU, make sure that it will work with your motherboard. AMD chips won’t work with an Intel motherboard, and vice versa.

3)    RAM Speed – RAM comes in many flavors. First of all, make sure you get Desktop sized RAM not notebook RAM. It’s an easy mistake to make. Second, make sure that the speed matches your system. There are a variety of speeds out there, so get the right one for your system to ensure optimal performance.

4)    Power Supply – This often gets overlooked. The power supply literally controls how much energy your PC can handle. If you plan on building a gaming PC or a graphic design PC that will utilize powerful hardware, don’t skimp on the power supply. Otherwise, you may find yourself unable to boot up the awesome machine you’ve just built.

-Josh
Computer Fitness
Onsite and Remote Tech Support

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Posted in Desktop - Workstation | No Comments »

Hardware Overview: RAM

Saturday, March 27th, 2010

RAMHello and welcome to Computer Fitness’ Blog! My name is Josh. You may know me from the Internet Beacon. We have a pretty cool blog over there. If you’re new to our sites, do check it out; there’s plenty more awesome over there. Computer Fitness is a tech support firm in Finksburg, MD. Our areas of expertise run the gamut from desktop repair to server maintenance. This week I’d like to talk about RAM.

Now, most people know what RAM does. If you don’t, here’s a quick rundown. RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Computer programs will take a chunk of it to run a program and then return it when they are finished. This is different from your Hard Drive, which stores data more or less permanently until you say otherwise.

Getting back to RAM, the more the better is generally true. However, there are cases when this may not be exactly true. While increasing the amount of RAM in your computer is almost always good, there are rules. There are two things I would like to caution users to take into account when purchasing RAM.

Teamwork is Key

RAM works best in pairs. When your PC/MAC uses RAM, it runs quicker and smoother when the amount of RAM you have is based on two similar chips. In essence, if you have 1 GB of RAM, you’re best speeds will come out of a pairing of two 512 MB chips.  This rule applies as you increase the memory.

Ask Your Mother

Your motherboard, or Mainboard, is like the nervous system/brain of your computer, in that it deals with everything attached to the computer. What you want to take into account here is the maximum possible RAM that it can support. No technology is without limitations, and planning for the future is important. When ordering/building a new PC, check the maximum amount of RAM supported by the Motherboard.

If it is only twice what is currently in the PC, you may find yourself buying a new computer in 2-3 years rather than 5-6. The best part of desktop computers is the ease of upgrading. By not checking the computer’s limitations, you could end up spending a great deal more money than necessary.

Well, that’s all for this week. Come back next week for more tech tips!

-Josh
ComputerFitness.com

Baltimore Tech Support

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Posted in Hardware Overview | 1 Comment »