The CPU is often considered the brain of the computer. It is a small chip which processes all of the information going through the computer. There are two variations of processor, boxed and OEM. Boxed versions come with a heatsink and manufacturers warranty. They can either have ATX or BTX heatsinks depending on the type you choose (usually you have to specifically ask for one with a BTX heatsink). The heatsink assists with cooling the processor and is basically a big fan assembly. This will be covered more in depth in the Accessories section. The OEM processor doesn’t come with a heatsink meaning you have to buy a third-party one and the processor only comes with the store warranty (usually 30 days). There are two main manufacturers of CPU’s. These two areĀ Intel and AMD.
Lately, Intel has manufactured some of the most powerful processors available commercially. Their top of the line processor is the Intel Core 2 Quad QX9650 which is a quad core processor currently costs about AUD$1200. It is rated at 3GHz which is an extremely fast processor. Intel has manufactured many dual-core CPU’s as well. The latest being the E8xxx series which use the new 45nm fabrication process. I will go into this a bit later. Intel’s best value for money dual core processor is probably the E8400 which is only AUD$200 and is rated at 3GHz. This is an insanely good price. Their best value Quad core processor is still the Q6600 which can now be found for less than AUD$300 and is rated at 2.4GHz.
AMD is the second largest manufacturer of CPU’s. Their processors are not as fast as Intel’s but offer a lot more value for money. Their best processor is the Phenom 2.4Ghz Quad core costs around AUD$230. This processor is better than the Q6600 because it is a native quad core processor rather than two Core 2 duo processors on one die. AMD also has triple core offerings for those who do not want to spend excessive amounts of money on a computer but still want some decent performance. These sell at a starting price of AUD$140.
So what are the basic things you need to know about the CPU?
Intel or AMD?
Well, firstly, you need to understand the differences in CPU types. CPU’s have different sockets. An AMD processor will not fit in a motherboard designed for an Intel processor. Overtime, CPU manufacturers release new processors which cannot fit in an older socket on the motherboard. In a case like this, you need to replace the motherboard and possibly other parts if it is a very old computer. A good example of this is Socket 478 and LGA 775. Socket 478 was the socket used by Intel’s older CPU’s such as Pentium 4 Northwood. When Intel released new Pentium 4’s they also released a new socket, LGA 775. This was for various reasons such as not enough power for the CPU etc. Intel still use the LGA 775 socket which means the processor has 775 pins. People who had the old Socket 478 processor had to replace the motherboard to upgrade the processor.
Your monitor is the single most expensive component in your pc system. This means that a lot of money can be saved if you make the right decision and choose the right cheap computer monitor. There’s a lot more to computer monitors than just the size of the screen. Read on to find out what to look for when choosing cheap computer monitors.
The features of a computer monitor :
A computer monitor is like a high quality TV set, the difference is that with a computer monitor you sit very close and try to make out fine details such as words.This means that a computer monitor must have very fine definition and an image that is nice and stable on the screen so you do not get eye-strain. You will spend a great deal of time staring at a computer monitor so it is important that you get one that suits you perfectly.
When you are looking for cheap computer monitors you will be given different specifications. These numbers can be confusing so let us look at what the specifications mean when you are sitting in front of your monitor.
Resolution :
This is the number of pixels on the screen. Say your screen is set to 1024 by 768 it means that there are 1024 along the top of the screen. This means that if you had a picture that was 1000 pixels wide you could see the whole picture without zooming out and losing details.
Monitors will be described as having a maximum resolution. This will be the highest setting possible. Usually the monitor will have an optimum setting slightly below this resolution.
High resolutions are great if you want to look at graphics because more of the picture will fit on the screen at once. However if you are looking at text a letter 5 pixels high will get smaller and smaller as the resolution increases. This means that if you are only going to surf the net and do email then you will be wasting money and straining your eyes with a high resolution monitor.
All new 15 inch monitors will do 1024 by 768. If you are looking for a cheap computer monitor then get one capable of this resolution.
If things are too small then you can always lower the resolution to 800 by 600. You may also be able to raise the resolution but doing this will lower the vertical refresh rate. Read on to find out why you must spend more to get a monitor to run high resolutions.
Vertical Refresh Rate :
This is a very important specification. The speed that a monitor draws an entire screen, called the “vertical refresh rate” or “frequency,” is measured in hertz (Hz).
To prevent eye-strain you want your monitor to be running the current resolution at around 85Hz. This will make the image stable. At lower refresh rates the screen will flicker and you may not notice it at first but you will notice the splitting headache you get after about an hour of use at a low refresh rate.
The vertical refresh rate dcreases as the resolution increases. In the monitor manual look for the resolution that has 85 vHz next to it. This will be the optimum resolution for the monitor. Setting the monitor any higher will damage both your eyes and your monitor over time.
Monitor size :
This is easy to understand. Bigger monitors make the picture bigger so that you can have higher resolutions without text getting too small. This makes less work for your eyes. Buy as big as you can afford. Currently 17 inch monitors are great value. If your interested in having a look at some great prices for computer monitors then click the ad on both the right and left sidebar to find out the monitors that match your need.
Dot Pitch :
In trying to evaluate a monitor’s quality, most people will usually talk about dot pitch. In general, the lower the dot pitch (measured in millimeters), the better the monitor. The problem is that dot pitch can be measured in many different ways, and therefore doesn’t necessarily mean much.
A low dot pitch will make text crisp but as I said there is no standard measurement to compare. Usually spending more money will increase the monitor quality.
I found the best way to ensure that a monitor has a nice crisp image is to buy a good brand. I found an excellent deal on Viewsonic 17″ monitors. Viewsonic is a trustworthy brand.
Choosing cheap computer monitors should take time. There are some excellent bargains out there at the moment. Remember if you don’t have a huge demand for a high resolution monitor then get a 15 inch. It will still display sharp graphics at low resolutions and at these low resolutions things will be nice and big for your eyes.