Laptop Guide

Main laptop components

CPU/Processor – CPU is the processing core of a computer. In short, it contains all the information needed for the machine to perform its functions. The major CPU manufacturers are Intel and AMD.

External drives – these allow you to extend the computer’s storage capacity and may allow storage and retrieval of date on such optical media as CDs and DVDs, ideal for users who manage large volumes of data e.g. photos or videos for archiving.

GPU – the Graphics Processing Unit enables the computer to deal with graphics and complicated applications. Certain laptops have a dedicated GPU while others have such capability built in the main processor.

Hard drive – the internal hard drive stores the data used by your software applications on the computer. Hard disk technology keeps falling in price resulting in laptops being offered with even bigger drives, usually starting from about 60GB and rising to several hundred gigabytes.

Memory – the memory in your computer is widely known as Random Access Memory, or RAM. Generally speaking, higher end laptops will come with a bigger memory. Memory serves as an office for the computer as it processes and runs applications. So the more memory it has, the better the performance. Memory of 1GB or more is now commonplace and should be more than enough for most users.

Modem – the vast majority of laptops now have an integrated modem allowing them to go online via dial-up connection, though it is being replaced by wireless technology for a broadband connection.