Understanding your business needs is vital in making the right, as well as cost effective decisions when investing in technological infrastructure.

Although we supply Oureaos Elite Business Systems, we urge you to consider your requirements before you buy your next set of systems.

Below is a comprehensive guide in understanding what to buy and how much you should spend.

Monitors:

These are purely based on what you would need for your office, average sized monitors are between 18" and 21"(the " stands for "inch") monitors. Modern monitors run at a minimum resolution (screen size that computers use to display visuals) of 1366 x 768. These monitors would allow you to properly view the Windows Operating Systems and other modern operating systems. (Older "square monitors" run at lower resolutions)

Computer Processing Speed 

Computer processing speed is a vital component to consider when purchasing systems. Your computer processor (CPU) is found in your "computer box" and handles the instructions you give to the computer. The faster your CPU, the faster would the computer responses be when you carrying out a task.

Take the following example for instance. 

Ben, Jim and Alex are tested in an oral maths exam. Each are asked the same question , and their response time is recorded. Here are their results

The maths questions were 3 problems ranging from easy to hard.

Ben:

2 x 9 = 18.     Response Time: 2.14 seconds

15 x 3 = 45. Response Time: 4.5 seconds

12 x 6 + 5 = 77 Response Time: 10.2 seconds

Jim:

2 x 9 = 18.     Response Time : 4.2 seconds

15 x 3 = 45. Response Time : 5 seconds

12 x 6 + 5 = 77 Response Time : 15 seconds

Alex 

2 x 9 = 18.    Response Time : 7 seconds

15 x 3 = 45.  Response Time : 8.4 seconds

12 x 6 + 5 = 77 Response Time : 22.5 seconds

As we can see, the sharpest tool in the shed is Ben. He's average response time beats the others. Although Alex gave the exact same correct answers, he took a bit longer than the others, this does not render him stupid, but merely a bit slower than the others.

For easy calculations like 1+1=2 the boys might average the same response times, but for more complicated operations, Ben would be more efficient

The same with computers, the faster the processor (brain of the computer) the more efficient they would be in handling complex request (Like running a graphics design program or watching a High Definition movie or even copying and saving data)

Knowing that, let's see what computer processors are out there.

Intel is a company that manufactures computer processors(CPU), Apple's processors are manufactured by Samsung and TSMC. In laymen’s terms,  all processors run on the same principles that is Processing Speed (eg 2.3Ghz, 1.88Ghz and so on ).  Here we would use processors that are manufactured by Intel (more cost effective options)

Intel Core i7

These are super-fast processors; Intel has built these processors to handle highly complex operations or tasks like Video Production, Graphic Design, Computer Aided Simulations and much more. So if you feel your firm NEEDS this power choose a computer that comes with an Intel core i7 processor.

Intel Core i5

This is the Mid-Range processor but still packs a powerful punch. Get your tasks completed much faster and perform complicated operations with ease, Not as powerful as an Intel core i7 but if you not performing insanely complex operations, we doubt you'll see a difference.

Intel Core i3

Hmm, this is a fairly budget line processor, but still more powerful than older computer processors (which we thought was powerful in its time). The Intel core i3 processor is usually used in industries that require less processing power (Data capturing, basic internet browsing, Word Processing and other easier tasks) more complex tasks will hinder the response time of the processor. We probably not giving enough credit to these processors but compared to the other two processors, this one has its perks without blowing the bank.

Now that you understand the CPU, let's move on to How Much RAM you need.

RAM (Random Access Memory) 

Just as the name indicates, these "little helpers" assist you in creating a more streamlined environment. Let's not confuse you here are the facts

RAM is used by programs and stores what you doing to be used thought your operation before committing it to memory (so you don't need to click on "save" every time you type a letter )

Let's use a simple analogy

Someone is helping you to stack bricks, he carries 5 bricks at a time and goes back to fetch 5 more every time you take the 5 bricks from him. Doesn't that speed up your work flow? But wait, every time he goes and fetches the 5 bricks you'll have to wait for him to return. If he tries to carry 10 bricks he’ll walk slower back to you, and his limit is 15 bricks. He can't carry any more, leave alone the maximum amount he's carrying, he will soon get tired and perform much slower.

In comes another helper , he also brings 5 bricks and waits for you to take them so by the time you take his five bricks, the other helper is there with 5 more, and so on.

In computers, You are the program (as you laying the bricks ) and your helpers are the RAM component of your operation. If someone else is helping you to stack the bricks (another program ) you both would have to share the helpers. So taking this into account, you now understand how ram works. 

The more Helpers you have, the more efficiently you can complete your task without any hindrances.

While this is all happening, your brain is busy processing how you are going to lay the bricks and where to place the bricks (your brain is the CPU)

So you can now relate the both important features (i.e CPU and RAM) let's move on to the other simple components to take into account when purchasing a system

HDD ( Hard Disk Drive ) :

Your hard drive is a "container" for the amount of information you have stored on your computer. Everything that the computer needs on a long term basis is stored in your Hard Drive. 

Hard drives come in many "sizes" for example 500 GB (500 Gigabytes), 1 TB (1 Terabyte) and so on. This is an indication on how much of information you can store on your computer. Let's take another example.

Think of your Hard Drive(HDD) as a jar of coffee. Let's say you buy 500g of coffee in a 500g Jar. The Jars maximum capacity is 500g, even though the jar can hold 500g of coffee it can also hold 1kg of water, or 2kg of butter or 5kg of lead. Regardless of the weight capacity or weight of coffee available that the jar can store, what you store in the jar depends on the VOLUME that the jar can accommodate (how big or small or wide or narrow the jar is).

So think of your HDD as this "Container", regardless of what you put into your hard drive, be it pictures , videos, documents etc, the maximum VOLUME of the HDD space available is what you paid for (ie 500GB, 1TB, 2TB and so on).

What are Bytes, Megabytes, Gigabytes and Terabytes?

"Bytes" is a virtual unit of measure (just like how we measure grams, kilograms, tons etc.)

Every action you perform on a computer has some "weight" attached to it that's measured in bytes. When browsing online, data is transferred in bytes to you (which is the same as me throwing a ball that weighs 100 grams or a book that weighs 350 grams to you and you catching it and keeping it in your pocket or this coffee jar we were talking about earlier) .

Kilo, Mega, Giga, Tera?

Same as the "grams" unit of measure, as it goes up in multiples of its own product. For example 1000g = 1KG same with bytes, 1024bytes = 1MB, 1024MB = 1 GB, 1024GB=1TB and so on. 

So why 1024 and not 1000. In computers, bytes are made up of "bits" bits are tiny sets of instructions communicated by your CPU. So if we drill down, 8 bits = 1 byte and these infinitely carry on to give us our "virtual unit of measure" i.e Kb, MB,GB,TB...

Having problem understanding?

 An average size of a photo taken out by your mobile phone camera is around 4 - 5 MB

Average size of mp3 : 4 - 8MB

Average size of a word document : around 800kb to 4MB (depending if there's any images in your word document)

And Finally all the other bits and bobs you'll need to keep in mind :

DVD-ROM ( Read Only Memory ) Basically allows you to read CD, DVD and other compatible disks

Power Supply : The little power box that powers your computer. The more components you have in your computer the more power (electricity) you'll require to prevent damages to your computer.

Motherboard : Your motherboard serves as a transport of communication between computer components in your computer box, much like a bus route or a train route. The motherboard carries instructions from the CPU to where ever the destinations need to be reached