Computer Add Explained. Terminology.

An add in the Best Buy catalog is trying to sell an Intel Pentium 4 Processor 630 with HT Technology Computer with 15" LCD Flat-Panel Monitor and Color Printer. The add also states that the computer includes Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 software, 1024 MB DDR Ram memory, 250GB hard drive and double-layer multiform at LightScribe DVDRW drive.

The add is simply telling the customer that the computer processor manufacturer is Intel, and that the chip is a Pentium 4 650, the number for is used simply to identify the processor chip, it is used by most high-performance PC's today. This computer has 3.40 Ghz, this means that the computer has a clock speed of 3.40 gigahertz, One GHz represents 1 billion cycles per second. The speed of microprocessors, called the clock speed, often is measured in gigahertz. When your measuring something on the computer your measuring the clock signal between circuits, which is used to coordinate the use of different circuits.

This computer also has 1024 megabytes DDR Ram memory. A megabyte is approximately 1 million bytes. RAM is memory. Memory is everything. It is more important than your applications or your hard drive. RAM stands for random access memory, which simply means memory that is accessed randomly. When you open up a program everything you do with that program goes into RAM before you view it. RAM is a temporary storage place, which allows data to be fed to the processor at high speeds. Consider the analogy of a basic workspace, such as a drawing board. More memory lets you create a larger drawing table to work on. This means that you can lay out more of your project at one time, and work on it all at once. In addition, you can have more tools, such as markers, brushes, straight edges, and pencils at your elbow.

If your table is smaller, you may have to go over to the counter when you need a specific tool, or file some pages away before you get any more. This process of putting away and getting out is very slow. If your space is extremely small, you may find that tools and artwork are just too close together and that your space is cluttered. When this happens, you slow things down even more, and run the risk of spilling, tearing or smudging the work due to the close quarters you're