» Order Online
   » Contact Us
   » Guestbook
   » Newsletter Archives
   » Our Staff
   » Home
   » Site Index
Free Email Newsletter

 

Office Helper Internet SpecialsOffice Helper free catalogsOffice Helper computers, etc.Office Helper productsOffice Helper news you can useOffice Helper resource linksOffice Helper web design services

Office Helper newsletter archives


Size or Performance:
What's the REAL truth?

You're ready to purchase a new computer system, but you don't know whether you should get one that has a 700MHz processor, 256 Megs of RAM and a 30 Gig hard drive or one that has a 450MHz CPU with 64MB of RAM and an 8.4GB hard drive.

To make the right decision, you must determine your needs, so answer these questions to begin:
  1. Will it be used as a server or a workstation?
  2. Will it be used to run general business applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, bookkeeping, etc. or for computationally intensive programs such as CAD/CAM, modeling or graphics?
  3. Do you want to play the latest games, use it to edit video clips or for speech recognition?

Of course, a lot depends on your budget, so you may have to comprise, but here are some guidelines that will help you make the right decisions:

  1. If the system will be used as a server, buy the fastest system with lots of RAM and the largest and fastest hard drive(s) you can afford. Servers are often configured with more than one CPU and two, four or six hard drives! To really make the right choice when it comes to servers, you should consult with a professional. If you need assistance, please email us and we'll help you find a reputable consultant.

  2. If you're going to be using the computer as a general business workstation running programs such as Word, Excel, and Quicken, then a 350MHZ CPU with 64MB of RAM and a 8.4GB hard drive is very, very adequate for your needs. General business applications are not memory intensive and the data files you create with them are not very big, so unless you just want the biggest and fastest, why waste your money? Instead, take part of the money you save and make sure your new computer includes a tape drive or other backup device on which you can regularly backup your entire hard drive or those important business data files that you have created.

  3. If you are a graphic designer, architect or engineer and you will be using your system to run CAD/CAM and other programs that require intense computations, then speed is very important, and the faster the processor, the better. The same goes for RAM…get at least 64MB. Typically, graphic data that you create is huge by comparison to word processor files. For example, a 50 page word document may only take up 400KB of hard drive space, whereas a graphic file with color photos may easily be 40, 80, even 100MB or more in size!! So, you'll want to get a BIG hard drive. Perhaps even two drives. One to store your data, and the other for your software applications and operating system.

There is an argument as to whether you should have one large hard drive or two or more smaller drives. It's the old 'putting all your eggs in one basket' consideration. In a one-drive system, you loose all of your data (Of course, if you're a smart computer user, you regularly back up all of your hard drives anyway!) It also takes longer to defrag a larger hard drive.

Video clips and speech recognition are also memory and speed intensive, so if you intend to use your computer for either of these or if you're a gamer you'll want plenty of speed and hard drive space. Gamers especially will also want to consider at least a 16MB AGP video card, if not one of the 32MB or 64MB cards.

When comes to hard drives, the are two basic categories: IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) and SCSI (Small Computer System Interface). Although there have been major advances in IDE type drives, including faster transfer rates (Ultra ATA/66MB/second) and increased spindle speed (7200RPM delivers 33% faster spindle speeds than 5400RPM drives), SCSI is still the fastest and is typically the type of drive you will find utilized in most servers. On the other hand, SCSI costs about twice as much and you must also purchase a SCSI adapter card which further adds to the cost. But, if it's performance you need or want, go SCSI.

In summary, the fastest processor is not the total solution. If you want speed and performance, you must also have plenty of memory (particularly if you are running Windows NT that makes full use of the all of the RAM you have installed, unlike Windows 95 or 98, in which case 64MB of RAM is maximized) and a large, fast hard drive.

Although we've only presented the very basics here for you, if you have a particular question you would like answered, please email us and we'll do our best to have your answer waiting for you in your email box the next business day.

- Rich Poremba


RETURN TO ARCHIVES


| Internet Specials | Free Catalogs | Computers | Product Line-Up |
| Newz U Can Use | Resource Links | Web Design |
| Home | Guestbook | Order Online | Email |


Office Helper
1330 Ross Street
(just off McDowell Blvd., 1 block south of the Petaluma Cinemas)
(800) 862-4963 - (800) 933-7964 (Fax)
oh@officehelper.com


© Office Helper 1999, 2000
Feedback     Privacy Statement