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So, you are preparing to buy a new computer. The good news: With each month that passes, you get more computing power for less money. The bad news: With each month that passes, you get more computing power for less money.

Everyone knows that computers are constantly getting faster, more powerful, and less expensive. So, forget about trying to buy the latest and greatest machine. There is no such thing. Instead, you should buy a computer that fits your needs, not the needs of your computer company's bottom line.

The guide below is designed to give you a basic understanding of each of the standard computer components. If you want more information on peripherals, see the article, Computer Accessories. After the introduction to the concepts, you'll find some resources to help you find out about current computer models.

Computer Basics

CPU: The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the brains behind your computer. The CPU is responsible for performing calculations and tasks that make programs work. The faster the CPU, the quicker programs can process computations and commands.

RAM: A fast CPU is useless without an adequate amount of RAM (Random Access Memory). RAM is usually referred to as a computer's memory -- meaning it stores information that is used by running programs or applications. More memory lets you run more applications at the same time without degrading your system's performance.

Hard Disk Drive: The hard disk drive (HDD) of the computer is where permanent information is stored. Documents, databases, spreadsheets, and programs are all stored on the hard disk. The larger the hard disk, the more you can fit on the drive. The size of the HDD does not affect the speed at which a program can run, but the HDD speed can affect how fast you can access your files.

Optical Drives (CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RW): Optical drives are more commonly known as CD and DVD drives. They are considered "optical" because the drive uses a laser to see the data etched onto the plastic disc. All computers now come with some form of a CD drive. CD-R and CD-RW drives are becoming a new standard in portable data storage. The "R" in CD-R stands for "recordable." This type allows you to "burn" information to the CD only once. The "RW" in CD-RW stands for "rewritable." These can be rewritten several times over, allowing you to delete and add files.

Most software you buy comes on a CD-ROM, and you'll use your CD or DVD drive to read it and copy the software onto your computer.

Floppy Drive: While floppy drives can come in handy for transferring small files from one computer to another, it isn't generally a big concern if your computer has one or not. The Internet makes it quite easy to transfer files via e-mail, file transfer protocol (FTP), or some form of online download. Quite a few computer sellers now don't even bother to include a floppy drive. But because they don't really add to the overall cost of a computer, it doesn't hurt to purchase one with a floppy drive. Zip drives are a form of floppy drive that can hold hundreds of megabytes of information.

The standard floppy drive reads removable diskettes (which hold 1.44 MB of data). Most non-Apple computers come standard with a 3.5-inch floppy drive, but internal Zip drives and SuperDisk drives (which can hold up to 120 MB of data) are becoming more commonplace. While the Internet may be replacing them to a degree, floppy drives are still a useful way to share files quickly with the person next door, or to backup data.

Video Card: The video card is a board that plugs into the PC motherboard to give it display capabilities. New video cards come with their own RAM and processor to help speed up the graphics display. Many computers come with video chips built in. That makes a separate video card unnecessary, unless the computer is going to be used for high-end multimedia work or to play video games.

Sound Card: Like video cards, sound cards are expansion boards used for enabling a computer to manipulate sound. Most sound cards give you the power to plug in speakers and a microphone. Some even give you the jacks for hooking your computer up to a common stereo. As with video cards, many computers come with sound chips, making it unnecessary to buy a separate card, unless you need higher sound quality for your work.

Specific recommendations

The specifications that make a computer a “power computer,” a “graphics workstation,” or simply a “basic bare-bones system” change constantly, as newer and faster chips, systems, and software packages are developed.

For up-to-date reviews of systems currently on the market, check out these Web sites:

PCWorld

Macworld

CNET