Geeks On Site on: "I Know How to Build a Computer... umm, What's CPU?"

By: Erica Kirschbaum

Have you ever been in a conversation that involved terms like CPU, motherboard, or PC component? We would like to hazard a guess the conversation was probably about building your own computer.  You may have felt a bit overwhelmed with the terminology, especially for those of you who simply want to turn the computer on and just have it work- knowing how and why it works may mean very little to you.  Lack of knowledge in some areas, especially technical areas, does not mean you should feel dumb.  We have all been there at some point.  Nevertheless, some fundamental knowledge is useful.  Geeks On Site does not just provide computer repair and support services, but we also guide customers through the basics of computer usage, thereby reducing customers' risk of experiencing "user error", a term we believe no customer appreciates hearing.   

When looking to purchase a computer you would benefit by asking what is it that you need? Are you going to use your computer mainly for graphic design? Or the maintenance of a customer database for the small business you have always wanted to own?  Maybe you are interested in gaming.  Most likely, you will be using it for all these things and more- or perhaps you will not be the only user.  So, the staff at Geeks On Site has created a quick guide (remember Cliff Notes?) for the basic computer user, or for those of you looking into getting one.

Let us begin with the computer components, which, we are pretty sure, you all more or less know: the monitor, hard drives and CD-ROM drives, the computer case, RAM (memory), USB reader, keyboard and mouse. Some of the components less known are: the motherboard, the CPU, and the video card. We will go over some optional computer components, such as the sound card, the LAN card, and the CD and DVD writer later.  

The monitor is probably the most expensive component.  These days you can get a 17 or 19-inch LCD monitor, although you can still find the old CRT (the TV screen-like) monitors, which are much cheaper than the LCDs, but can take up a lot more desk space.  The hard drive is very important, so you might want to buy one of the better known brands such as Western Digital, Seagate, or Maxtor.  Based on our experience, the companies that produce more popular brands sometimes have better customer service procedures in place, should you find yourself having problems with the product.  Since software packages usually come in CD format, it is desirable for you to have a CD reader since floppy disks are long gone.  Furthermore, your CD drive needs to be at least 24X speed, otherwise it might get very slow. Anything less is not recommendable, as this will probably result in hitting your computer and honoring it with different insults while you wait, which is what some Geeks On Site customers claim to have done. You probably will want to get a CD or DVD writer also, as it has become practically a must have feature nowadays!

The computer case is, in simple words, your computer's "physical address".  This hardware is where most of the components are.  Another important part of your computer is the memory, or RAM (Random Access Memory).  This part determines the speed of your computer, and how fast you can run multiple applications at the same time. Depending on what you are going to be using your computer for, Geeks On Site recommends you have 4GB of memory in your computer. Finally, two of the most well known components are the keyboard and mouse. You can find these components in different variations, wireless or classic, and you won't pay a fortune for it.

Now, let's visit components that are not so visible, and therefore perhaps not as well-known to the novice computer user.  One of the most essential components is the motherboard, which lives inside the computer case. It is also one of the biggest components; and has the function of tying all the separate components together. We will talk more about the motherboard later, in part two of this series.  That being said, for now we will simply mention what you need to look for when buying this component. Since it is an integral part of your computer, you need to look at some factors such as the supported CPU and RAM, bus speed, and built-in sound/video/LAN.   Geeks On Site writers have broken down each item and will explain what it is and how it works.

- The CPU (or more commonly known as the processor) is one part of your computer's brain, and as such, you really need to know which one to choose.  Most people end up with an Intel (Pentium), or AMD (Athlon); there is a lot more we can say about processors, and we will go into more detail in the next installment of this series, but in a nutshell your CPU allows you to operate software.    

- Sound, video and LAN cards are usually included in your computer's motherboard.  The sound card's importance depends on whether or not you will be running multimedia applications.  However, if you use your computer mostly to work, you may not care as much as say a gamer might.  The video card IS important to everyone, so, if it is not already in the motherboard, Geeks On Site suggests you add it since the video card displays images on your monitor, and who knows, and you may want to take a little break from work and add 3D graphics to your family photos or play some cool online games.

The Geeks On Site team hopes this article has enlightened you.  Our goal was to give our readers a quick lesson in computer parts and jargon, so when you are in the store, trying to buy one, or in the repair shop, trying to get the computer you have fixed, you will feel more comfortable.  

Stay tuned for our next article where we continue discussing the parts of a computer and explore more items you need to know in order to build a computer according to your needs.

About the Author

http://www.geeksonsiteusa.com">Geeks On Site provides computer repair and support services to homes and businesses nationwide, both onsite and remotely. Services include but are not limited to:

PCs/Macs, networks, printers and scanners, PDAs and MP3 players, software and hardware.

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