How Much Computer Memory and Processor Speed Do You Need?

How much computer do you really need? When you go into a computer store, they try to sell you the latest and greatest technology, but do you really need all that? Why can't you just purchase the lesser cost model, after all you really don't want a new computer anyways, right?

New computers today range from around $250 to well over $2,000 for a desktop model and from around $500 and up for a laptop model. How do you know what to get and what do all those numbers really mean?

The first question you have to ask yourself when you are a looking to buy a new computer is "What am I going to be doing with it?". If your sole intention is to check email and occasionally look something up on-line, then you do not need nearly as much computer as you would if you want to be playing the latest and greatest video games.

Next you have to ask yourself what kind of bells and whistles you think you must have. Are you the type of person that has to have the best computer out there, or can your live with a functional model that leaves the tech geek wanting more?

If you look through the Sunday newspaper ads, you can find many different deals on computers. If you read the descriptions next to the prices, you can see a lot of the numbers (no, not just the price) are going up. The two key numbers to look at are the CPU (processor) speed and the amount of RAM included with the computer. CPU speed is how fast the brain of the computer is running. Generally, the higher the number, the faster it can think and get things done. Today, speeds are up around 3.5GHz or 3500 for desktops and a little slower for most affordable laptops. Be careful though, some of the newer technologies actually have slower CPU speeds, but they have the equivalent of two CPUs in the computer, making the computer faster overall even though the speed number is slower.

The second number to pay attention to is the amount of RAM (random access memory) that is included with the machine. RAM is the moment to moment memory that is constantly used by the computer. In general, the more RAM that the computer has, the faster it can get things done. Today's operating systems demand a lot of RAM in order to work, so the more memory that you can get included in the computer the better. 512MB is the bare bones, least amount of RAM that you should ever get. With this amount, the computer will run, albeit not as fast as the computer could support. You would probably notice a little bit of slow downs here and there while starting up applications on the computer. Most recommendations today are to get at least 1GB of RAM, if not 2 or 3GB.

If you are going to get a computer to simply check email and occasionally look things up on the Internet, you could easily buy one of the least expensive computers available. While they will not be the blazing fast, most up-to-date and current technologies, they are more than enough for your current and probably future needs. If you are a gamer (want to be a gamer), make sure to look at what comes in the computer. Get the faster CPU and the more RAM memory. It will benefit you greatly. Most importantly for everyone though, do NOT let a sales person talk you into something that you think is to much. If you are in doubt, seek out a friend that has some computer knowledge or ask your tech guy at work. Buy a computer that is right for you, not right for the sales person!