"Standard" specifications

I'd offer to pop it into categories etc but don't know if that would actually be any help since by the time it's ready to be typed, it's already been typed. (Hmm, I know, I know - but it's early and I haven't had my coffee yet! :snckr.

 

Found my trusty little 'computer stuff only' notebook (the paper kind of note book, of course) ... and found what I'd written when hunting for our screen.


Understanding stuff :


Size
- A 17" screen is really only 17" diagonally and only 13 1/4" viewing area across the screen.


Viewing
- Some have views look very odd if not looking at it 'face on'.


Pixels/Resolution
The higher resolution the better when working with images (woe is that the higher the resolution, the smaller the text and images so it all fits on the screen.


Response time
The faster the better because it means how quickly each pixel turns on and off.


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Specs when Buying a Computer Monitor


It may not be much help, I'm afraid, as I never did figure out the 'specs' - but perhaps at least the headings may give us a guide to start with, at least when looking for computer screens.


-Colour Accuracy - vital for doing my images


-Pixel Response time, vital for doing my images


-If playing games, need a bright screen plus built-in multiple connection plug holes


-If playing movies, need same as above but with low black level

 

One thing to watch with monitors is what gamers call 'ghosting' its when the image moves faster than the pixels can respond and its almost like a funnily enough moving ghost image behind the objects.
Its not always linked to the response time so make sure that you read reviews on any monitor you buy.

The finish on the screen is also a big factor no point having a screen that reflects every bit of light off it

 

Thanks, Dalo! I know it's nearly impossible to give actual 'specs' when buying a monitor because of all the personal needs of the personal buying one - but I'm so pleased you mentioned reflection and to read reviews lest one end up with ghosts keeping us company while playing games! :snckr:

If I wanted to head out tomorrow and buy a brand new computer (I don't, luckily) ...

What general 'specs' (Processor) would want want if buying a computer for 'gaming', I wonder? (I'm making an assumption here that if a computer is powerful enough to handle gaming, it would be powerful enough to cope with pretty much any other computer needs?).

Thanks ever so much once again.

 

In terms of a 'gaming' PC

you really need a dual core or quad core CPU (Intel at the moment as they are faster and cheaper than the AMD offerings)

A MOBO is down to preference really on make and model.

2GB of high end RAM (PC8500)

depending on what size your monitor is, for a 20-22 screen I recommend the 260GTX its an awesome card and you can get them in the UK for around £120-£130

At least a 500Watt PSU again dont skimp on a PSU if you buy a cheap one it can cost you your newly installed components

And again a case which is down to preference, I use the Antec 300 on most builds for people as it houses all the components easily, has good cable routing and keeps the whole system frosty

Whatever size HDD you think you would need 1TB versions in the UK are around £50 now

All in all you are looking at £600-£700 including a monitor and OS
Not bad for a system that will play pretty much anything at 1680x1050

 

This is terrific information - thank you, thank you!

Sitting here laughing at myself, though - and thinking I'll need to give you large rocks to throw at me, soon!

What do the below mean please?

dual core or quad core CPU
MOBO
260GTX its an awesome card
PSU

 

CPU is a Processor, the thing that makes the computer 'tick' quite literally lol.
You can get many kinds of CPU, at first they were just standard "single core" but now you can get "Dual core" "triple core" and "quad core" some MAY see it as having 2, 3 or 4 processors in one. But it just means that it has more than one place to perform tasks so it can cope with "heavier" tasks as it can split them up and share them between the cores.

A MOBO is short for Motherboard. The central hub of a computer. Everything connects to this board.

260GTX is a model of Graphics card. There are 2 main rivals for Graphics card production; Nvidia and ATI. The main differences are generally that, Nvidia cards are faster, but more expensive, whereas ATI's are cheaper but generate a lot of heat.

the 260GTX is an Nvidia card. If you put it into google, or google images, you will see what it looks like

PSU, is short for Power Supply. The box that powers the PC

Hope that helps?

 

It does! Huge happy grin!

Techs have such an 'easy' time of it when they go computer shopping - well, at least easy compared to a non-tech shopping for one... so this Reference for Specifications really will help a huge amount (when everything's ready, if you still want a volunteer to help type, just holler! ).

And I do hope you didn't mind my asking for the meaning of each term used - and really do appreciate your explaining things so thoroughly, DirtyPolo! Thanks so much!

 

Dalo, you are thinking along the same lines as my original idea, nothing too specific but giving an idea what you need and more importantly what you don't need.

 

Dalo, I want to move to wherever you live - at least long enough to buy a truly great computer!

I've seen computers here advertized with 4 GB RAM ... and thinking there must be some mighty huge programs coming down the line if one actually will need something that vast - wow!

 

There are currently not many programs that use more than 4GB of RAM other than music production and graphic programs.

Each person has their own ideas of what they want - what they NEED can be truly different and thats where most of the issues come in.
You cant physically get a PC that plays all current games well for much less than £800 by the time the OS is added.

I am always happy to help spec pc's from low end net machines only to Servers