STACK #224 June 2023

TECH FEATURE

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TER IALS

COMPU ESSENT

The latest in processing power

Intel’s new 13th generation processors boast more cores and optimised hardware to boost

performance – in fact, the top model claims the crown for world’s fastest mobile processor. They’re also now compatible with Thunderbolt 4.0 ports, a new version of Bluetooth that’s twice as fast, and new Wi-Fi that’s three times faster. AMD’s newest processors are the Ryzen 7000 series, with the top model packing 16 cores for a 78 per cent boost in performance over last year’s. As well as the boosted speed, they can also extend a device’s battery life.

Buying a new computer for work, study and/or play can be a daunting task. If you’re looking to upgrade your rig for the new financial year, our buying guide has you covered. Words Michael Irving

more than enough for most people’s use. But if you’re planning on playing a lot of

games or crunching huge video files, you might want to bump it up to 1TB.

DYK?

On the go or just at home? The first question you’ll need to ask yourself is where are you going to use your new computer? If you’re mostly deskbound in an office, and don’t need to take your work with you much, a desktop computer might be best. If space and weight don’t matter, a desktop rig can be more powerful. Heat can be removed more efficiently too, which improves

Storage type is important too. SSD (Solid State Drive) is king, with lightning-quick speeds and plentiful space. Another common form is called eMMC (Embedded

them into a bigger screen or multiple displays. So, what else do you need to take into consideration? Processor

English mathematician Charles Babbage designed the first computer in 1822. A mechanical device requiring over 500,000 moving parts that would follow instructions on punched cards, it ultimately proved too complex to build.

Multi-Media Card), which is slower but much more affordable if you’re on a budget and are only doing simple tasks.

The processor, or CPU, is the brain of the operation, with more powerful chips better able to handle intensive tasks like gaming

or video editing, or performing more tasks at once. It’s not always worth jumping straight to the top end, though – entry-level models can handle everyday tasks just fine, and can be more energy efficient, resulting in longer battery life. Higher-end models are better for intensive tasks. RAM RAM supports the processor’s work, so the more of it the better. The

Display Full HD resolution – 1920 x 1080 pixels – is pretty much standard for laptop displays, and that’s plenty clear enough for spreadsheets and documents. Some models boast higher resolution, like FHD+, Quad HD, 2K or up to 4K. Higher is better for movies or games. Portability Some laptops are much thinner and lighter than others. If you’re lugging yours around a lot, size and weight are important considerations. Battery life Some people mostly use their laptops at a desk where they can plug it in, but others might want to work on the train or in a café. Think about how long you plan to use it untethered, and check battery life ratings.

performance and prevents damage. Desktops are also more customisable, so you can swap and upgrade parts, and of course, you get to pick your monitor separately. Laptops have the obvious advantage of being portable. You can work and play basically anywhere, and can still plug

current standard is 8GB, with 16GB offering more grunt, and even 32GB available for power users. Storage 512GB of storage is common for laptops nowadays, which is

48 JUNE 2023

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