Your computer

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Hard drive - Your hard drive is the storage bin for everything on your computer; programs, files, graphics, applications, etc. It will become slow from use because your operating system does not always return files to the proper place on the drive. What it basically does is try to use every unused space on your drive. It actually can break a file into very small pieces and scatter them about your disk, if it finds an unused spot - even in the middle of another file. This action causes the drive to slow down because it has to search longer to gather up all parts of the file you are requesting. There is, however, a solution to this dilema called defrag, a maintenance program for your hard drive. Click here to get all the details on defraging.

RAM - Random Access Memory (RAM) is the size of workspace available on your computer. When you open a program, file or application, it resides in RAM. When you open too many applications, files, etc., your computer slows down and will actually reach the point of crashing. The best investment you can make for your computer is to add RAM. You cannot have too much RAM, as it not only increases your workspace but also speeds up your computer. Click here for more information.

Processor- CPU - Abbreviation of central processing u nit, and pronounced as separate letters. The CPU is the brains of the computer. Sometimes referred to simply as the processor or central processor, the CPU is where most calculations take place. In terms of computing power, the CPU is the most important element of a computer system. Click here for details on CPUs.