Computer Basics

January 22nd, 2011 Admin


A computer is not just one thing but is consisted of many parts that work together. A desktop computer is a computer intended for use at a single location only. It is usually bulky and consisted of many parts connected together by wires. Here are some of the basic parts of a desktop computer.

The CPU or Central Processing Unit. This is considered as the brain of the computer. This is what processed all the information and carries out the commands in your computer. This is regarded as the most important computer part because without this, your computer will cease to function.

The RAM or Random Access Memory. This is considered to be the short-term memory of the computer. The bigger memory capacity of your computer’s RAM, the more files you will be able to store and more often, the faster your computer would work.

The motherboard. This is the main board in the computer. It contains many chips and circuitry. This is where the CPU and RAM are located.

The hard drive. This is where all the computer programs and information are stored.

The floppy/CD/DVD drive. Floppy drives are used less and less. This is where floppy disks are put in. CD/DVD drives are prominent today because of the high us of CD’s and DVD’s. Aside from reading CD’s and DVD’s, computers now have the ability to store information on them through a process called “burning.”

The monitor. This is the computer screen that displays whatever you are doing on the computer. Today, computer monitors come in different shapes and sizes.

The keyboard. This looks like a typewriter and is what you use to type on the computer. This also serves as a control of whatever you are doing on your computer.

The mouse. This is used to control the pointer on the computer screen. It has two buttons, left and right, that is used to click and choose things on the computer screen.

A sound card found inside a computer allows for the output of audio through a computer’s speakers or headphone. A video card on the other hand allows for the output of video that is displayed in the computer. Using both of these is usually helpful when using your computer for games or for viewing videos.

The power supply. This is connected to all computer parts and is what supplies power to all parts of the computer.

Aside from the basic computer parts, there are still many other parts that can be found on a desktop computer. You can add a printer to put into hard copy the files on your computer. A speaker, to hear the computer’s audio. A scanner, to put in images into the computer. A webcam, to serve as a computer camera. A modem, used to connect your computer to the internet.

You may already know the parts mentioned or may have been familiar with them only now but whichever it may be, you are now ready to get yourself a new computer. Whether you want to get a whole new computer set or just looking to get some parts upgraded or changed, you can’t go wrong with Cheap Shopping Center.look through this online store. You’ll be sure to find your entire computer needs here without the hassle of going out and searching computer stores one by one. Browse this site and you can get brand new or pre-owned computer parts and accessories at the cheapest prices. You are definitely going to get a bargain at this store without sacrificing quality. So go on, visit www.cheapshoppingcenter.com [http://www.cheapshoppingcenter.com] and get that perfect computer for you!

By: Marshal Pull

About the Author:
Marshall is an avid Internet Marketer, and enjoys connecting surfers with the products they are looking for and getting paid to do it. He has been running as a way to present various computer parts and accessories [http://cheapshoppingcenter.com/computer-basics/] in a new way.



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Tips For A Fast Computer – Part 1 Of 2

January 21st, 2011 Admin


Nobody wants to have a slow computer. Wars have been wages for faster computers…well no they haven’t but, you get the point. There are simple tricks that you can do to speed up your computer.

The first thing you can do is to defragment your hard drive. Over time your computer can become slower due to fragmentation on the hard drive. This is caused by many things but mostly by deleting files and then saving over them. When you delete a file you clear up space on your hard drive. Once you have cleared up the space in hard drive you can save over it, however, if the file to be saved is larger than the deleted file your computer has to break up the new file. This is known as fragmentation. Your computer will become slower when you have more fragmented files as it will take longer to piece them back together.

One of the simplest and easiest ways to speed up your computer is to install more RAM. Random access memory is also known as RAM and all computer systems use it. Most computers now come with 512 MB to 1 GB of RAM. If you play a lot of video games or use a lot of imaging editing software I would recommend no less than 2 GB, but, if you can get 4 or more gigabytes of RAM then I would. You will be amazed at how much quicker your computer will be.

If your motherboard will allow it, then getting a faster processor can aid in increasing your computer speed. This will also help you if you like to run many programs at one time as most people do. For example, having Internet Explorer and Excel open while Windows media player is playing is what I mean by having many programs running at the same time. If you have the know how to overclock your processor you can do that, however, is not recommended. It is not recommended because it will shorten the life of your processor.

Try to keep your desktop as clean as possible. What I mean by this is to make sure that your background is simple and that you don’t have the entire desktop covered with folders and files. Having a ton of files and folders on your desktop makes your computer have to load them up when it is for starting, which slows down your computer. Also, make sure that none of the programs open when you first start Windows. This adds to the time it will take for your computer to restart a reboot.

By: Victor Joseph

About the Author:
Victor Joseph has been writing articles online now for over a year. He not only does he specializes in nutrition, dogs, weight loss, personal development and golf, you can check out his latest website on a womens leather jackets.



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Building a Computer – Benefits Over Buying Prebuilt

January 21st, 2011 Admin


Years ago, building your own computer was a virtually nonexistent option. Parts were hard to come by, and if you managed to find what you needed, chances were together the parts would cost more than simply buying a computer prebuilt. The good news is, building your own computer is now a viable option, and can often be the best one.

There are countless profound benefits to building a custom pc. One of the biggest is due to the fact that you get to choose the parts that go into it. This ensures that every part purchased and assembled is of the highest quality (or not so much if you are on a budget). Computer companies, such as Toshiba and Dell to name a few, often skimp on the parts inside the computer leaving you with a machine that is unreliable and overpriced. Choosing your own components also means the computer you assemble will have all the parts to meet your needs; no more and no less. Often, prebuilt computers may come with unnecessary accessories or components that you don’t really need but still have to pay for. Choosing your own parts allows you to be in control of what your computer can do. Another important and appealing benefit is that of cost.

A custom build pc can almost always be cheaper than a prebuilt computer if one chooses the components correctly. It is possible to build a computer for two thirds the price or better of a nearly identical machine you might find at a retail store. Building a computer is also a great option for gamers. It allows them to customize their computer to better suit the needs of the graphic-intensive and high-demanding games of today and tomorrow. With a little research, a gamer could build a lightning fast pc with dual, top of the line graphic cards for what would seem like dirt cheap compared to retail price. Finally, an often overlooked benefit of building a custom pc is the amount of knowledge and experience one could gain from doing so. Never having built a computer before, one could double their knowledge in a pc’s workings and have a very enjoyable time doing so.

There are many ways to obtain the parts needed to build a custom pc. One good option is to visit a local computer store. The biggest benefit of this method of obtaining parts is that the customer actually has the option to speak to an expert (hopefully) face to face. A second option would be to purchase parts from an online auction site, such as eBay. On these sites, it is possible to find components at very low prices, but one must be leery of the quality of product they are receiving. Also, many of these parts may have been previously used in another computer. It is strongly advised to buy computer parts new, as used products have a much higher tendency to break down and do not come with a warranty. The third and usually best option is to buy parts from an online retailer. Good online retailers carry the most up to date and newest products and offer them at lower prices than available at most any retail store, such as Best Buy. Many orders also qualify for free shipping and one almost never has to pay tax.

When one thinks of building a computer they often misconceive that it is a complicated and risky feat, when in fact it is not. It consists of simply purchasing and assembling the parts and installing the software. Here is a list of the basic components needed to build a computer;

- Processor (CPU)
- Motherboard
- Hard Drive
- RAM (Random Access Memory)
- Video (Graphics) Card
- Sound Card
- Optical (CD/DVD) Drive
- Case
- PSU (Power Supply Unit)
- Keyboard and Mouse

These parts can be bought individually, or in a bare bones kit; or a package containing all the compatible parts needed. A sound card and/or video card can even be avoided upon purchase of a motherboard with these components built in (on-board), but a discrete graphics card is highly recommended. Keep in mind that this is a very basic list and most would want to add a few more optional components to further customize their PC, but the above would build a working computer. Before going about building a PC, it is important to research carefully all that needs to be done. Also, make sure to research the different parts, their functions, and what specifications meet your needs before you buy. Verify that all the chosen parts are compatible and work well together.

A common misconception is that building a computer is not worth the time. Usually, people think that putting something as complicated as a pc together takes days, if not weeks. A custom built computer should take only a few hours to assemble for first-timers, and experienced computer builders can do it in less than an hour. As long as research is done beforehand, anyone building a computer should be able to do so in a very reasonable amount of time.

All said, building a custom pc is a great option for anybody, whether they need a simple, cheap computer for checking their email or whether they need a top-of-the-line high performance pc to handle the latest and greatest games. The benefits of doing so are endless, and the experience and knowledge gained is priceless.

By: Josh Plooster

About the Author:
Josh Plooster
Owner and administrator of Electronicsearch – http://electronicsearch.webs.com/ Cheap computer parts and electronics and all the help you need to build your own PC.



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