Upgrading your PC or Laptop

Okay-you,ve been thinking of upgrading your PC or LapTop. Congradulations you have decided to join the 20th century just like the rest of us. Well not to worry, you just have to understand the latest technology and terminology. However if not comfortable with repairs, then take it to a certified repair station.Tools needed-phillips-regular screw driver,pliers,tweezers,lights,mall set box wrenches.After you,ve played around with your system you begin to get the feel of taking it apart.

Box- case or outer cover. This is just the outer cover usually held on by 4-6 screws in the back of a completed computer system. The cover usually slides backwards. Laptops are a little different in getting the skin/cover off. Because of the design and components inside of laptops, I dont recommend opening it, as it is better to take it to a certified repair station.

Screen - Monitor or LCD - Just what it says, monitor=.25 dot pitch,ususlly plugs in the back,color coded wires too-so pay attention where the wire came from.

Drive - hard drive-this device stores all your applications and software.

Memory Sticks - internal memory-random access mempory-temporary storage place for data.

Processor - cpu or computer brains-processes software and firmware instructions

Modem / Fax modem - Communication device-device used to communicate across the Internet or Fax documents.

CD/RW-DVD/WR- CD reader/burner or DVD burner-we all probably know about burners. A device used to copy CD,S-DVD,S

OS-Operating system software - Windows XP nowdays.

MHZ-this term is megahertz, represents speed of processor.

MB-Mega Bytes-size of memory sticks

MB-Motherboard

At a bare minimum, you want to get familiar with these terms without getting too complicated. Now normally I use Fry,s electronics-cheap parts. Okay, when upgrading from an older system- the new requirements for XP-512mb ram, 1 mghz (Pentium or AMD) processor, cd-rom,dvd-player, possible bult in fax modem,15,17,19,20 inch monitor,DSL modem can be added later,may come with the box. Without overwhelming anyone-these are the minimum I would use.