Computer Basics

Charlie, Student¹

"Having a PC at home is a big plus in my studies. Doing research is a breeze, and helps in writing my papers. I also enjoy playing games and sharing videos and photos with friends."

As a full-time student with a part-time job, Charlie keeps a busy schedule. From doing homework and reports to uploading videos and catching up with friends online, Charlie relies on his desktop PC to get things done.

Powered by a 3rd generation Intel® Core™ i3 processor, Charlie’s PC lets him quickly get his schoolwork done, with a lot of extra power for doing his favourite things. Intel® Quick Sync Video makes editing and uploading videos faster than ever before, while Intel® Clear Video HD Technology gives him a sharper, smoother and richer experience with his favourite movies.

What’s inside my PC?

Whether you have a desktop, notebook or even an Ultrabook™, every PC usually contains three main parts: a processor, RAM and a hard drive. The processor (also known as the Central Processing Unit or CPU) plays a vital role, controlling your PC’s functions and how fast it can do them. This speed is expressed in gigahertz (GHz).

RAM (Random Access Memory) acts as your computer’s active memory for current tasks, and really helps your processor do more demanding tasks at one time, so having more RAM is good.

Finally, the hard drive is your PC’s long-term memory, where all your electronic files like documents, videos, photos and programs are stored. Be sure to get enough hard drive space for all your files.

Why is my processor important?

Think of the processor as your PC’s electronic brain, coordinating the other parts to run all the necessary applications and tasks efficiently. As a general rule, the faster your processor, the better your computer performs and the more things it can do. Many new programs today require more powerful processors to run properly, so it’s important to make sure that your processor can run the programs you need.

The 3rd generation Intel® Core™ i3 processor’s multitasking performance helps Charlie do more things at the same time, like writing reports while uploading photos and chatting online. Additionally, the built-in visuals offer a superior experience for movies and videos without the need for an additional graphics card.

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