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Processor

The processor is the brain of your computer. If we compare the computer with a person working by a desk, the processor’s speed is the speed with which the person can write. As such, the processor determines how fast individual tasks can be completed.
The processor’s abbreviation is CPU (Central Processing Unit), and there are currently two relevant producers: AMD and Intel. Both produce high- and low-end CPUs. The more expensive CPUs are typically dual-core, i.e. they have 2 cores. Because of that, they are effective at doing more things simultaneously (in other words, they’re good at multitasking) and thus run more programs at the same time.

Intel is currently producing the strongest series of CPUs called Intel Core 2 Duo. This series contains a dual-core CPU with a high performance per MHz. The gist of this is that a 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU is faster than other 2 GHz CPUs. In addition to the high performance, the Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs are relatively cool, as they don’t use a lot of power. The only downside to this processor is the price, but it’s preferable to other CPUs if within budget.

We recommend this type of CPU for the business, gaming, and multimedia groups. The latter can make do with an AMD Turion 64 X2 processor though, which has a comparable performance per MHz. It does use more power and therefore creates more heat, but is cheaper and can take some pressure off your budget.

There are 3 interesting series when it comes to single-core CPUs. The best is the Intel Core Solo series, which is pretty much a single-core edition of the Intel Core 2 Duo series. Intel also produces a cheaper series called Celeron M. This particular series has slightly lower performance per MHz and therefore creates more heat. AMD’s counterpart to this is the AMD Sempron. The performance of this series is worse though, and the processor cannot be recommended for anything but office use, and that is only if your budget is already stretched. The Intel Celeron M series is likewise only for office use, while the Intel Core Solo series can be used in the business group due to its lower power usage which makes it evolve less heat.

Memory

The memory is the machine’s short-term storage. If we compare the computer with a person working by a desk, memory is the size of the desk. The size of the desk therefore determines how many things can be on it while keeping everything in order. In much the same way, memory determines how many applications can run at the same time without slowing down the computer. The abbreviation for memory is RAM (Random Access Memory), and there is currently a myriad of brands. The specific brand of the RAM blocks rarely matters, as quality is almost always as it should be. However, one has to be aware that both the amount and the speed of RAM affect system performance.

Today, standard RAM in laptops is DDRII. This kind of RAM comes at 3 different speeds: 533 MHz (PC4200), 667 MHz (PC5300) and 800 MHz (PC6400). MHz determines how fast the RAM can move data in and out. Most computers come with 667 MHz RAM, as the price of this is almost identical to that of 533 MHz RAM. 800 MHz RAM on the other hand is much more expensive, but boosts system performance by only a few %. As such, they are not worth it unless economic resources are unlimited. The amount of RAM makes a huge difference though, and you shouldn’t be afraid to spend money here. If you want to buy a new computer today, the absolute minimum is 1 GB (1024 MB) RAM. It’s often worth it to get 2 GB (2048 MB) RAM though, as it only adds a couple hundred DKKR per GB. RAM hardly uses any power, so it’s pretty much a “the more the better” kind of situation. RAM has no influence on battery life at all.

Hard drive

The hard drive is the warehouse of the computer. If we compare the computer with a person working by a desk, the hard drive corresponds to the size and number of drawers in the desk. The hard drive therefore determines the number of files (music, movies, etc.) you can store. The hard drive is abbreviated as HDD (Hard Disc Drive), and there are quite a lot of brands. Many have a personal preference, but no brand distinguishes itself in terms of quality. However, some offer longer warranties, although they rarely inform you.


Like RAM, the hard drive in a laptop comes at 3 different speeds. Speed is measured in RPM (Rotations Per Minute), and comes at 4200 RPM, 5400 RPM, and 7200 RPM. 4200 RPM HDD is rarely found, while the most common are 5400 RPM drives. The speed of the hard drive determines how quickly the computer boots, how fast different programs start up, and how fast games load. Note that the faster a HDD is, the more power it uses (though this is not much). A faster HDD will thus result in a slightly lower battery life.

The need for a high capacity hard drive differs on an individual basis. Less than 80 GB (80 x 10003 bytes) is not recommended, but hard to find these days anyway. You will only really need a larger HDD if you use the computer to store music or movies or large amounts of pictures. One thing you have to keep in mind when it comes to HDD capacity is that producers count 1 GB as 10003 bytes while Windows counts 1 GB as 10243 bytes. As such, a 100 GB HDD will have a real capacity of (100 x 10003)/(10243) = 93.13 GB.