Q: What is a home theater PC?
A: Based on Windows XP Media Center Edition the home theater pc can be the new focal point for all your multimedia needs. Play movies, mp3's and view digital photos all from the comfort of your couch. Pause and record live TV. Capture home video then burn to DVD. All this and it is a full Windows XP PC as well. Surf the web, view e-mail and even play games!
Designed to fit in with your existing hi-fi equipment and running virtually silent, the Pacific Solutions' HTPC features an AMD CPU for enhanced security and Radeon graphics for top-quality TV display plus 3D gaming performance.
Stop in for a demonstration today!
Q: What is a CPU?
A: The CPU, or processor, is the "brain" of the computer. There are 2 major CPU manufacturers: Intel and AMD. Intel offers Pentium 4 and Celeron processors. AMD offers Athlon and Duron processors.
Intel Pentium 4 and AMD Athlon processors are geared towards mid- to high-end systems. Intel Celerons and AMD Durons are for budget computers. Although Intel and AMD are fairly competitive at making their individual processors fastest on the market, most AMD systems cost less for the same performance while Intel Celerons currently perform far below any other processors in performance.
Q: What is 64bit? Do I need it?
A: The new line of AMD processors are 64bit Athlon 64's. These are very high end processors that support all the software you run today and 64bit applications that will come out later. There are currently no applications that take advantage of 64bit. However the Athlon 64's perform on par with the fastest Intel processors in 32bit applications.
You also may run into systems that use Cyrix processors. You may find one in a custom build but generally Cyrix processors are in Eden Mini-ITX motherboards. The Eden platform runs much slower than Intel and AMD CPUs, but it runs virtually silent with little power usage.
Q: What is a motherboard?
A: The motherboard is one of the most crucial parts of a computer system. It holds the CPU, memory, and add-on cards and lets them communicate. Retail ads usually don't mention the motherboard. Knowing the brand and chipset of the motherboard is important for two reasons: performance and upgradeability.
Motherboards manufactured by industry leaders such as MSI or Asus perform better than cheaper clones, and can be more easily upgraded to faster CPUs and add-on cards. Proprietary motherboards often used by manufacturers like Dell, Compaq and HP can be very hard to upgrade. It is usually difficult to find out what motherboard is used in a preconfigured system sold by a nationwide retail chain. Don't plan on upgrading your CPU after a year no matter where you purchase it.
Q: What is memory?
A: The memory is the place where the computer stores programs and data it is working on at the moment. Sometimes it is referred to as RAM, or random access memory. Don't confuse RAM with hard disk space. Data stored in RAM disappears when you turn the computer off or reboot. Data stored on the hard disk does not change when the computer is turned off.
The two things to look for when asking about memory are type and speed. There is SDRAM, the older standard and newer DDR memory (sometimes called DDR SDRAM). SDRAM is significantly slower than DDR and is starting to get more expensive as well. DDR comes in many speeds, from 200mhz (a.k.a. PC1600) to 400mhz (a.k.a. PC3200). You want to get memory as fast (higher number) as your motherboard will support.
Some high end systems will also use Dual-Channel DDR where two physical sticks of ram are used at the same time. Dual-channel is quite a step up in performance over single-channel but costs more due to the two sticks.
Q: What is the hard disk?
A: The hard disk is the place where the computer puts all programs and data for permanent storage. Make sure that you have at least 20 gigabytes (GB) of hard disk space for a multimedia system to use at home. If you are going to be storing music files, videos, or digital pictures, you will probably want a larger hard drive.
You can also choose between the newer Serial ATA drives and the older standard parallel ATA drives. Serial ATA can be faster but will also cost more. Having a Serial ATA capable motherboard even without using it will be better for upgrades in the future.
Another thing to ask is if the hard drive comes in FAT32 or NTFS format (if Windows XP was installed). NTFS is more secure and more reliable than FAT32. Any drive 40GB or larger MUST be NTFS.
Q: What is the case?
A: The case is the first thing you see when you look at a computer. You can choose a case on aesthetics but you need to make sure the computer gets adequate cooling. A general rule is to have one fan pulling air in the front for every fan that is pulling air out the back.
Cases usually include the power supply. The higher the watt rating of the power supply, the better it can handle high-end processors, multiple hard drives and extreme gaming video cards. For a modern system 300watts should be the minimum and 400+ is recommended for a high performance P4 or Athlon system.
Some people are also concerned about noise level. Quiet case fans and power supplies are easy to install but will usually cost slightly more.
Q: What is sound?
A: Sound is produced through cooperation of two components: sound card and speakers. The sound card creates a sound signal and sends it to the speakers to be broadcasted to the world. Sound cards are usually able to output only about 4 watt per channel. To get more powerful sound, use amplified speakers.
Most systems come with a software-based onboard AC97 sound solution. While good enough for everyday use, people who plan on listening to music or watching DVD movies should consider a sound card upgrade. More expensive higher-end sound cards produce crispier, richer sound with less distortion. While Sound Blaster is the most popular model on the market it is not always the best. This is one area where researching what card will match your needs will prevent a lot of frustration down the road.
Q: What is video?
A: The video card produces the video signal for the monitor. There are basically 3 ways to use the video card and you need to base your purchase on that. First is basic office and internet use. Most low end systems have video integrated into the motherboard, which is more than adequate for this purpose. Second is the same use but with multi-monitor support.
There is a wide selection of cards that provide true support for 2 or more displays. Last, and most expensive, is 3D gaming. Be prepared to spend more on the video card than any other single component if you plan to play 3D Shooter and simulator games.
Q: What is a monitor?
A: 14-inch monitors have become a thing of the past. 15-inch screens are adequate for resolutions up to 800 by 600 dots. For higher resolutions, look at 17-inch or larger. If you have time, shop for a monitor separately and find the one you really like.
LCD flat panels have come down in price and can keep up with CRT monitors in performance. However LCD monitors run best only at one resolution (usually 1024x768 for 15" and 1280x1024 for 17") which some people may not want.
Buzzwords and tricks are what you often see in the ads from large chain stores. Make sure you understand what those words mean and what they
hide.
Internet ready (Buzzword)
Any computer that has a modem can be declared "internet ready". It is even possible to use the internet with a black-and-white monitor. To use the internet comfortably, you only need a modem, a color monitor, and a mouse, so any computer should be "internet ready". It's just like putting a "ready to drive" sticker on a brand new car in a dealer lot.
Clear, crisp audio enjoyment from XXX speakers (Buzzword)
Meaningless unless you know what kind of sound card comes with the system and the power of the speakers.
56K modem (Buzzword/Trick)
Any new modem purchased these days should support the V.92 standard. Most ISP's have either already converted to this standard or will soon. Most people however will not use the features of V.92 so V.90 standard modems should be fine. If you are going to use your modem for net meetings, make sure it supports voice.
Preinstalled software bundle (Trick)
It's hard to say who puts together those bundles because they are useless for most people. Generally, you are much better off shopping for your software elsewhere. Bundled software might also be trial or limited versions that are constantly asking you to spend money for upgraded, "deluxe", or "platinum" versions. If you are getting one of those bundles, make sure that everything comes with a manual and installation disks. In that case, you can reinstall the programs if something happens.
Wireless Ready (Trick)
Your system may have a card to allow you to access a network without cables, but it will not work without a wireless access point or router and the knowledge to set up the software for your wireless link.
Questions To Ask!
You can easily avoid some buying mistakes if you know what questions to ask.
Does this system come with DDR, SDRAM, dual channel or single channel memory?
DDR is faster than SDRAM and dual channel is faster than single channel.
What type of sound card is in this computer?
See if it comes with onboard sound or a separate sound card.
What is the power output of the speakers?
Do they come with subwoofer?
Can I upgrade it? Is it a standard or proprietary design?
Make sure that the system takes standard parts, so you can upgrade it later if you want to.
Can I get this system without the software bundle at a lower cost?
The bundled software is often useless.