Chipset
The model of the chipset used in the standard configuration of the PC.
A chipset can be described as a set of chips that provides the combined operation of the central processor, RAM, I / O devices, etc. It is this chipset that underlies any motherboard. Knowing the chipset model, you can find and evaluate its detailed characteristics; most users do not need such information, but for specialists it can be very useful.
Model
The specific model of the processor installed in the PC, or rather, its index within its series (see "Processor"). The full model name consists of the series name and this index — for example, Intel Core i3 3220; knowing this name, you can find detailed information about the processor (characteristics, reviews, etc.) and determine how suitable it is for your purposes.
Speed
Clock speed of the CPU installed in the PC.
In theory, higher clock speeds have a positive effect on performance because they allow the CPU to perform more operations per unit of time. However, this indicator is rather weakly related to real productivity. The fact is that the actual capabilities of the CPU strongly depend on a number of other factors - the overall architecture, cache size, number of cores, support for special instructions, etc. As a result, you can compare by this indicator only chips from the same or similar series (see “CPU”), and ideally, also from the same generation. And that's pretty approximate.
TurboBoost / TurboCore
Processor clock speed when running in TurboBoost or TurboCore mode.
Turbo Boost technology is used in Intel processors, Turbo Core — AMD. The essence of this technology is the same both there and there: if some of the cores work under high load, and some are idle, then some tasks are transferred from more loaded cores to less loaded ones, which improves performance. This usually increases the clock frequency of the processor; this value is indicated in this paragraph. See above for more information on clock speed in general.
RAM
The amount of random access memory (RAM, or RAM) that came with your computer.
The overall performance of the PC directly depends on this parameter: ceteris paribus, more RAM speeds up work, allows you to cope with more resource-intensive tasks, and facilitates the simultaneous execution of numerous processes. As for specific numbers, the minimum volume required for the stable operation of a general-purpose PC nowadays is
4 GB. Smaller amounts are enough for microcomputers and thin clients, and at least
8 GB is installed in gaming systems, on the contrary.
16 GB and even more so
32 GB are already very solid volumes, and in the most powerful and performant systems there are values \u200b\u200bof
64 GB and even more. Also on the market you can find configurations
without RAM at all — for such a device, the user can choose the amount of memory at his discretion; for a number of reasons, this configuration is especially popular in nettops.
Note that many modern PCs allow for an increase in the amount of RAM, so it does not always make sense to purchase an expensive device with a large amount of "RAM" — sometimes it is more reasonable to start with a simpler model and expand it if necessary. The possibility of upgrading in such cases should be clarified separately.
Speed
The clock speed of the RAM that comes with the PC. This is one of the parameters that determine the capabilities of RAM: with the same amount and type of memory (see above), a higher clock frequency will mean faster performance. However such details are rarely required by an ordinary user, but they are important for enthusiasts and professionals.
Also note that this indicator can be used to determine the possibilities for upgrading the system: the motherboard will be able to work normally with brackets that have the same or lower clock frequency, but compatibility with faster memory should be specified separately.
Number of slots
The number of slots for RAM modules provided on the PC motherboard. In this case, we are talking about slots for removable strips; for a PC with
built-in memory, this parameter is irrelevant.
The slots available on the "motherboard" can be occupied all, partially or not occupied at all (in models
without RAM). Anyway, you should pay attention to their number if the initially installed amount of RAM does not suit you (or ceases to suit you over time), and you plan to upgrade the system. The smallest amount found in a PC with removable memory is
1 slot ; if it is busy, you will only have to change the bar when upgrading. More connectors for RAM are always paired, this is due to a number of technical nuances; most often this number is
2 or
4, but it can be large — up to 16 in powerful workstations.
Note that when planning an upgrade, you need to take into account not only the number of slots and type of memory (see above), but also the characteristics of the motherboard. All modern "motherboards" have restrictions on the maximum amount of RAM; as a result, for example, the presence of two DDR4 slots does not mean that two strips of maximum capacity can be installed in the system at once, 128 GB each.
Max. memory support
The maximum amount of RAM that can be installed on a computer. It depends, in particular, on the type of memory modules used, as well as on the number of slots for them. Paying attention to this parameter makes sense, first of all, if the PC is bought with the expectation of upgrading RAM and the amount of actually installed memory in it is noticeably less than the maximum available
So the amount of maximum installed memory depends on the number of slots in the PC and can be from
16 GB(a modest PC) to
64 GB and above. The most popular on the market are
PCs with a maximum installed 32 GB of memory.
Graphics card type
The type of graphics card used in the PC. Modern computers can be equipped with both
integrated modules (among those you can find products of
Apple and
Intel –
HD Graphics,
UHD Graphics and
Iris) and
discrete video cards (including
professional ones), which can be installed in several pieces using
SLI or CrossFire technology. In addition, on the market you can find configurations that are not equipped with graphics adapters at all. Here is a more detailed description of each option:
— Integrated. Video cards that are built directly into the processor (less often, into the motherboard) and do not have their own dedicated memory: the memory for video processing is taken from the general “RAM”. The main advantages of such modules are low cost, low power consumption, minimal heat release (which does not require special cooling systems), and extremely compact dimensions. On the other hand, the performance of this type of graphics is low: it is enough for simple everyday tasks like web surfing, watching videos and undemanding games, but for more serious purposes it is still desirable to have a discrete video adapter in the system. And the fact that integrated systems take
...up part of the system RAM during operation does not contribute to performance either.
— Discrete. Video cards in the form of separate modules with a specialized processor and their own memory. They are noticeably more expensive than integrated ones, take up more space and consume more energy, but all these shortcomings are offset by a key advantage — high performance. This allows you to work even with “heavy” graphic content like modern games, 3D rendering, high-resolution video editing, etc. (although the specific characteristics of discrete graphics, of course, may be different). In addition, graphics processing in such systems does not use the main RAM, which is also an important advantage. For additional performance enhancement, discrete video adapters can be combined into SLI / CrossFire systems, this option is indicated separately (see below). Also note that in most modern PCs, such graphics are combined with a processor with an integrated graphics core, and often work in hybrid mode: the integrated module is used for simple tasks, and when the load increases, the system switches to a discrete graphics card.
— SLI/CrossFire. Several discrete video cards (see above) bundled using SLI technology (NVIDIA is used) or Crossfire (AMD is used). From the point of view of an ordinary user, there are no fundamental differences between these technologies: both of them allow you to combine the computing power of several video cards, thus increasing graphics performance. However, such graphics are not cheap, and therefore they are used exclusively in high-performance PCs with an emphasis on graphic capabilities — in particular, gaming ones.
— Sold separately. The absence of any graphics card in the initial configuration of the PC. A rather rare option found in some high-end workstations: such configurations are equipped with professional processors without an integrated graphics core and do not have discrete graphics — it is assumed that such an adapter is more convenient for the user to buy separately.