Understanding the components of a computer can help you choose the right one for you.
A computer's form factor, as well as the type of hard drive, graphics card and optical drives it has, can have a significant impact on the type of work you are able to do on it. Understanding the basic components of a computer and your own computing needs can help you make the best decision of what type of computer to buy.
Form Factor
Desktops are available in sizes that range from full towers to micro towers. Full tower desktops are best suited for users that require lots of room for expansion and do not expect to move very much. Smaller desktops, such as micro towers, shadow boxes and net top computers are suitable for situations where you may want the power of the desktop computer but still want a small footprint such as a media computer in a common area such as the family room.
Laptop computers are also available in different sizes. Full-size laptops may range in size from 13 inches to 17 inches while smaller, netbook laptop computers may be 10 inches diagonally.
Hard Drive
Computers store data on their hard drives. Consumers can choose between traditional hard drives, which use magnetic spinning plates to store data, or solid-state drives, which have no moving parts. Traditional hard drives are more affordable but are more prone to hardware failure. Solid-state drives are popular for mobile applications such as laptops due to their stability but can be expensive. For most users, traditional hard drives offer more space at a more affordable price, though solid-state drives are steadily becoming more affordable.
Optical Drives
Computers may come with one or more optical drives. If you require an optical drive, confirm that the computer you choose has the optical drive that fits your needs. Optical drives are backward compatible. Optical drives include CD-ROM, DVD or Blu-ray DVD players. Some optical drives may also have recording capabilities. At minimum, most modern computers including traditional laptops and desktops, will have an optical drive of some type. The exception to this are netbooks, which are small laptops that may sacrifice an internal optical drive to save space. In most instances, a DVD drive will be sufficient for most users, but if you require Blu-ray, you must have a Blu-ray drive. Blu-ray DVD drives are capable of playing both Blu-ray and regular DVD discs, as well as CDs.
Graphics Cards
A computer graphics processing unit is the main component of a computer graphics card and is repsonsible for rendering graphics, which are then displayed on a monitor. The graphics card determines the quality of the graphics displayed. High-end graphics cards have more powerful GPUs and may also have onboard RAM to help render more complex graphics. Basic graphics cards are sufficient for most general computing needs; however, gamers and professional, such as video editors or photographers can benefit from more expensive high-end graphics cards.
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