What to Look for in a Home - Office Graphics Card by John Gibb
Let’s talk about some specifics for the average home/office PC user. This PC is used for word processing, spreadsheets, viewing photos, and even watching a DVD movie or playing a 2D game. Most all of these functions are handled easily by today’s low-end graphics cards. ... If you’re just playing solitaire, it’s not likely you’ll notice the difference in a $50 card and a $500 card. ... Don’t get features you don’t need If you just play on the Internet, or balance your checkbook on the computer, you don’t need all those available connectors on the back of your video card.

Computer Memory - Flash Memory by Michael Russell
Flash memory is a form of EEPROM memory, which is Electrically-Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory. It allows more than one location to be written to and erased in just one operation. Flash memory is what is called non-volatile. That means it does not need power to retain the information that... Today a new generation of these formats is busting onto the scene with the RS-MMC or Reduced Size Memory Card, The TransFlash, the miniSD, which is a variation of Secure Digital, and the new USB hybrid memory card and intelligent stick.

How to Buy Computer Memory by Gary Hendricks
How do you know when to buy more memory for your computer? Or how much memory you'll need? If you can afford it, you should always buy as much memory as you can, since it boosts system performance. But not all of us need 1 GB of RAM - most home users need only about 512 MB of RAM. ... When to Buy More Memory Thinking back on my experience with building computers, there are usually five scenarios under which you'd buy memory for your computer: When upgrading your operating system When installing new applications When installing multimedia cards When adding computer peripherals When...

Purchasing a Digital Camera by Deryck Richards
Digital cameras are very similar to traditional cameras, although there is one crucial difference – digital cameras don’t use film! Instead, they record photos and video to a memory chip or card. Most are able to record short video clips (usually anywhere from 15 seconds up to 5 minutes and... If you want to print them the traditional way, you can take the memory card to a photo developer and they can print the images from the card as if you were giving them your film. ... Once the photos are stored on your computer, you can print them, edit them, or e-mail them.

How to Upgrade Your Video Graphics Card by Michael Cottier
The video card that is inside of your computer is responsible for what you are seeing on your monitor right now and how good your PC games play. Video cards, also known as graphic cards, can come pre-built into your motherboard or can be an actual card that fits securely into a slot on your... Every computer has a PCI slot, so a PCI video card should be fine for anyone, but if you want to use the faster and better AGP technology then you need to find out if your computer has an AGP slot. ... These drivers should be on a CD or floppy disc that comes with the video card, if not then the card...

How to Choose a Video Card by Gary Hendricks
Want to know what piece of technology is changing most rapidly in the world of computer? That's right - video cards. The rate at which video cards come out is simply mind boggling. We're looking at a whole plethora of video cards based on graphics processors from ATI and Nvidia. ... The best way to see what video card to buy is to consider how you're using your computer now. ... Look for a video card whose processor which supports a high screen resolution, with ample graphics memory. ... Server If you're using your computer as a mail server, FTP server, print server, or even a game...

Wi-Fi - Finding What You Need by Lee Asher
There are all sorts of different devices you can buy that will give your computer wireless networking capabilities. If you've taken a good look around, though, you probably have been confused by all the different kinds of equipment being offered -- how things that look so dissimilar do the same... To install a PCI card, you need to -- horror of horrors -- actually unscrew your computer, take the cover of, and plug the card in inside it. ... Laptops: PCMCIA Cards PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association.

Buying the Best Gaming Laptop by Julien David
If you're in the market for a new gaming laptop there are some certain things you should look out for. This article will explain the various factors you should consider when buying the best laptop for your gaming needs. Processor The processor inside your laptop will have a lot of influence on... You usually cannot upgrade a graphics card in a laptop computer, so be sure you buy a laptop with a good graphics card. ... Memory The amount of memory (also known as RAM) is another key factor in choosing your gaming laptop.

Handheld Computers Guide - What to Know When Purchasing Your New PDA by Donny Duncan
Handheld computer devices, also known as PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant) are quickly becoming a necessity for millions of people around the globe. The ability to replace your address book, calendar, calculator, and even some functions of their home computers, can be absolutely priceless. ... Card Slots - This can be very important if you want your handheld computer to sport a lot of accessories like wireless network cards, and memory sticks. ... Things to look for when purchasing a handheld computer Processor Speed - Just like any computer, it's important to know how fast your...

Desktop Computer Basics by Dave Stewart
When buying a computer it helps to know some basic information about components and processes. Hopefully these explanations will give you a better understanding of how a computer functions, and enable you to ask the salesman some productive questions. ... Graphics Card The Graphics card or Video card provides, as the name suggests, the video output from your computer. ... Typically memory is cleared when the computer is shut down or reset. ... Sound Card Sound cards provide the audio output for your computer.