FREE ACCESS Power guide POWER GUIDE ON THIS PAGE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT MEMORY AND SCREEN ACCESORIES AND SOFTWARE EXTRA STORAGE Looking for a new computer, or want to keep up-to-date? Let us show you what's happening in the world of computer hardware. CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT At the heart of a computer is the microprocessor Central Processing Unit (CPU). The CPU is an electronic chip that carries out the instructions necessary for the computer to function. The CPU requires a host of other circuitry, but it's this chip which defines the computer. Sometimes the system box which houses this chip is also referred to as the CPU this is a colloquial expression, so don't be confused. The speed with which a microprocessor CPU operates is measured in Megahertz (MHz)  the higher the number, the faster the computer can work. While the speed of the CPU is a good indicator of how fast the computer is, the type of CPU used also affects the overall speed. The big player in the CPU market is Intel, and it's this manufacturer which sets the standards others follow. The Intel CPUs you're likely to come across for desktop computers are the Pentium III ("Pentium three") and the Celeron.  The Pentium III comes in a range of speeds: of up to 1000 MHz (also referred to as 1 GHz)  -- most home PCs will have CPUs in the 733 to 800 MHz range. The Celeron processor was introduced by Intel to deliver cost-effective performance. It's available in a variety of speeds up to 633 Mhz. CPUs from other manufacturers, such as AMD, are also available. The AMD Athlon is available in speeds up to 1000 MHz. Entry level: 633 Mhz Celeron Top system: 1000 MHz Pentium III MEMORY AND SCREEN RAM Random Access Memory (RAM) is your computer's short term memory where information and software is put while it's being worked on by your computer's CPU. RAM is measured in Megabytes (Mb). Only a couple of years ago, 8 Mb was considered a lot of memory. And until recently 32 Mb was the standard amount of RAM on many new computers, but you really should have 64 Mb to take advantage of much of the exciting computer software now available. Entry level: 64 Mb Top system: 128 Mb Monitor Until recently 14 inch monitors (measured diagonally across the front of the screen) were standard; now most computers come with 15 inch monitors which is enough for most home users. If you're designing pages, play lots of games or want lots of programs on screen at the same time, you're probably better off with a 17 inch model. Ask about the monitor's dot pitch (the space between the glowing phosphor patches on the inside of the screen). For a sharp picture it'll need to be 0.28 mm (or less). ACCESSORIES AND SOFTWARE Operating system The operating system tells the computer how to do basic tasks such as read information from the hard disk and display information on the monitor. With the recent introduction of Windows Me, you can expect it to be supplied with most new computers. Printer: There are two main types of printer available: inkjet and laser. Colour inkjet printers are ideal for home users, with some new models capable of producing near photo-quality. Laser printers are good for black-and-white, especially where you need to print large quantities, colour model are available but much more expensive. Cost to buy: Inkjet from $150 to $800; laser printer from $400 to $2000 Modem: This is a device for communicating with other computers using a phone line. The speed of the modem is rated in kilo bits per second (kBps) fastest available are 56 kBps. When buying check the modem conforms to, or can be upgraded to, the recently ratified V90 standard. Most modems can be used to send and receive faxes, and some as speakerphones. Top system: V90 56 kBps (cost $150 to $500) Software: Some of the biggest bargains come in the form of programs (software) included with a new computer. You're likely to find a purchase includes word processing software, a spreadsheet program, and a range of games and educational software. Speakers: These can come as part of the monitor or as stand alone units. They allow you to hear sound effects and music in games, multimedia software and from the Internet. Cost to buy separately: From $30 EXTRA STORAGE Removable disks For making backups of your programs and information, or if you want to transfer large amounts of data between computers you'll find a removable hard disk useful. These can be a hard disk in a cartridge for example, the Iomega Jaz drive can use 1 Mb or 2 Mb disks. But, perhaps more convenient, are the LS120 and Iomega Zip drives which can store around 100 Mb with the Zip drive being pretty much the de-facto standard. Cost to buy: About $280