Last of three parts
If you're buying a PC for a recent graduate, or even for yourself, you may already know how confusing today's hardware market can be.
But there's good news - almost any PC will make quick work of basic computing chores - word processing, Web browsing, e-mail, financial recordkeeping and music. Most also will handle digital photography and play video without complaint.
It's only when you have extraordinary computing needs - such as video editing or gaming - that you need heavy horsepower.
That said, think of a PC as a collection of components. On the retailer's shelf you'll find a sticker, much like a new car's, that explains what's inside. If you order a custom PC online, you'll create your own sticker. So here's what to look for:
Processor: Also known as the CPU (central processing unit), the microprocessor is the heart of the computer - the chip that does the actual computing.
Most CPUs are made by Intel, most of the rest by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), whose chips offer comparable performance at a lower price. They show up in many consumer-oriented PCs.
Processors are generally labeled by model and by speed, in billions of cycles per second, or gigahertz (GHz). Within a model, a faster processor will run better, particularly if you're using multiple programs or you enjoy multimedia or gaming.
Another distinguishing feature is the core design. In recent years, manufacturers have developed CPUs that use two slower and less complex processing cores instead of one ultra-complex integrated circuit. These require less power and offer advantages when you're multitasking or using programs specifically designed to take advantage of them.
In the bargain basement, you'll find computers using Intel's Celeron or AMD's Sempron chips, or the newer Intel Core Solo. These single-core CPUs are fine for basic chores as long as you stock up on memory - 512 megabytes minimum.
A step up on the food chain, you'll find variants of Intel's Pentium 4 (Pentium M on laptops) and AMD's Athlon 64 - all of which are still very capable, single-core designs.
On higher-end computers, you'll find a variety of machines using Intel's Pentium D, Core Duo or AMD's Athlon 64 X2 processors. These dual-core processors represent the future of chip design, but they don't necessarily translate into better performance today.
