A few computer questions?

Question

Ok, I've got a few computer questions.

1) When someone is talking about the BUS on a computer, what is that? Does every computer have this?

2) When talking about processors, what is the difference between a dual core or a quad core, etc? Break that down for me. What exactly does the Ghz speed mean on them?

3) Graphics cards. How do you tell what a good graphics card is, like how are they measured? I believe that I have seen some the say like 512 MB on it but they also have a number the 7200 or something like that.

4) What exactly does the mother board do?

Well, I thinks that all for now. Sorry, for so many at one time, I am just trying to expand my knowledge in the area. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Answer 1

The Bus is the path that data takes on the computer from CPU, memory, peripherals.  Faster is better.  All computers have a bus.  Bus speed is expressed in MHz or GHz.

Dual core has two microprocessors on it, Quad has four.  

Megahertz or Gigahertz is the speed data is processed or travels on your PC.

For Graphics cards, more memory (RAM) and faster GHz is better.

The Motherboard ties all of your hardware together as a functioning PC: your CPU, RAM, drives, graphics cards, keyboards, mice, etc.

Answer 2

The BUS speed is one of the parts in determining how fast a CPU goes. For example, a BUS speed for 400Mhx X 8= 3.2Ghz. If you don't know much about computers, don't even try messing with this, your more likely to end up frying your CPU.

By duel and quad core, they mean how many CPU cores a CPU unit has. As we reached the point where cores can't get much smaller, we instead just take a couple cores and have them work in unison. Thus, 2 cores at 2.00GHz each= 4.00Ghz. Or 4 cores at 3.00Ghz each= 12.00Ghz. Of course, not all software is optimized to use all of them to their full potential.

As a rule of thumb, the more VRAM a video card has, the better it is. So a card with 512mb>256mb.

A motherboard is basically were everything comes together. It makes the RAM, Video card, CPU, etc., from just parts into a computer.  

Answer 3

to many questions for a novice, suggest you google a few, Bus is the power distribution of various D.C. voltages.

Answer 4

ghz is gigahertz. mhz is megahertz. a gigahertz is 1,000 mhz i think.

i forget exactly what bus means. i think from memory its where the cables on a hard-disk plug into the motherboard.

the motherboard controls all the devices. broadly speaking that is.

as its been years since i learnt all the theory i could be rusty due to changing technology.

Answer 5

Lots of questions but here are a few basic answers.

1)  bus.  this is what moves data between the components like memory, storage and the cpu.  

2)  forget about it.  but if you want the basics, we are no longer talking about one computer on a chip.  each core is a CPU to itself.  dual is 2 quad is 4.

3)  This gets more complicated.  it's not just about memory.   You need to do more research on this one.

4)  the motherboard is the system.  It houses everything in your computer.