Need help - buying a new computer?

Question

So, my current computer is old and annoying and I'm looking into a new one. I'm going to go to college soon so I'm at a standstill between desktop/laptop. I know that a laptop will be more convenient but then I'd have to buy a mouse and a keyboard because I have hxc problems typing on laptops and I hate track-pads. And then there's the pc/mac problem...but I'm kinda leaning more towards windows...
BUTYEAH! Whenever I'm looking at computers at the store or online I'm just so confused!

Intel® Core™ i3-2130 Processor (3.4GHz)
8GB installed memory
1.5TB hard drive
Wireless LAN 802.11b/g/n
Integrated audio, 6 speaker configurable with up to 5.1 surround sound capabilities
15-in-1 memory card reader
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit

So I was just searching on staples for computers and I'm using this one as an example...

-So is this computer not dual core? What's so good about dual/quad core computers? They just run a hell of a lot faster?
-What is installed memory? is it RAM or is it just an over-simplified grouping of a bunch of stuff?
-I figure 1.5TB is just that, 1.5 terabytes of memory?
-lol, wireless LAN...? Is that just it's wireless connection capability? hahaha
-uhmm, sounds like it has good audio?
-I have no clue what 15-in-1 memory card reader is
-annnd 64-bit is just color right?

Answer 1

Intel® Core™ i3-2130 Processor (3.4GHz) is a dual core with 4 strands.



memory is RAM



TB=Terra Bytes



Wireless is your Wi-Fi connection. This one will work with the old b programing as well as the g programing and the newest n programing. Just different versions of wi-fi programming.



You can connect speakers for surround sound to the pc



15 in 1 memory card reader means your pc can read 15 different types of memory cards, such as SD Cards, mini SD cards. (cell phone and digital camera cards) as well as many other types of cards.



64 bit is the type of encryption (programing) in the operating system. Windows used to be 32 bit, now it is 64 bit and is the latest step in handling large software programs. A 32 bit computer like your old one, can't run the newer 64 bit programs. Your old pc is now as obsolete as the transistor radio, new programs are not being designed for it.

Answer 2

Dual cores are pretty much needed to be fast enough now days. Programs keep getting bigger as they add more details now. Old pcs don't get any slower but they seem slow as modern programs are big. Laptops are fine for school but not so much for gaming although there are still many games playable on them. If you are into gaming a powerful desktop will cost a lot less than a laptop. Newegg.com and FrysElectronics.com have good prices for comparison. The pc you list above is even more power than you need for school work. Word processing doesn't need much power.

Answer 3

-Number of cores is a number to show how many actual processor one computing has. Core i3 for example, it has 2 cores with 2 hyper threading each, so, total 4 threads. It means that it shows 4 processor rather than 2. Pretty neat eh?



-RAM stands for Read Access Memory.

For me, RAM is like having more capacity to produce more complex scene for my 3D model. (I'm a 3D modeler / renderer for architectural visualization)



-1.5TB (1.5 Terabyte) hard drive means you have 1.5 Terabytes of hard drive space. NOT memory. The specification list shows that it has "8GB installed memory". It means that it has 8 Gigabytes of RAM.



-Wireless LAN. Yes, it is a wireless connection capability.



-Integrated audio, means that it doesn't require additional audio card to play sound. The latter statement means it has a capability to have that type of speakers connected.



-15-in-1 memory card reader means that it has a capability to read 15 types of memory card.



-64-bit here is not meant to be the color. It is 64-bit computing. We used to use 32-bit computer in the old days. 32-bit computer only capable of reading maximum of 4GB of RAM. If you want to use the maximum capacity of your RAM, for example, more than 4GB, you have to run 64-bit operating system. You can even run 32GB RAM!



So, depending of what major you are in, you have to choose the right computer.

The one you mentioned, is usually good for 3D graphic application. For example, architects, civil engineering, animation, PC game.

One more important component to run these type of applications, is a graphic card (nVidia or ATI Radeon). I personally use nVidia Quadro for professional applications. GeForce for gaming.



If you only use it for office program such as Words or Excel, you probably no need to have more than 4 GB RAM. A computer with dual cores and 1 or 2 GB of RAM is more than enough to run such programs.