what are the 3 most important specs that affect performance

[tyonna]

I would assume processor, memory(ram), and hard disk, am i wrong?

 

[Shaun.P]

Maybe the processor cache?

 

[Hellhammer]

CPU, RAM and HD, but it depends on what do you do. In games GPU is most important but it's useless in everyday tasks.

 

[tyonna]

i'm not doing anything with the computer...it's a question i had for class

 

[Consultant]

Operating System
Hardware
Software Usability

 

[J the Ninja]

i'm not doing anything with the computer...it's a question i had for class

The honest answer is "It depends on what you are doing".

 

[Designer Dale]

I have more than three, but here they are (not is order).

HD rotation speed
Bus speed
RAM speed
CPU speed

HD speed is probably the single biggest bottleneck in any system. The computer can't work faster than the storage device it is connecting to.

Dale

 

[tyonna]

Let me rephrase the question, as I asked it the wrong way to begin with. I meant to say, when talking about computer HARDWARE what top three
specifications most affect Performance?

 

[dr. shdw]

Let me rephrase the question, as I asked it the wrong way to begin with. I meant to say, when talking about computer HARDWARE what top three
specifications most affect Performance?

What Dale said.

HD speed. Bus/Memory speed. CPU speed.

 

[bcburrows]

I am sure your teacher wants to hear
1) CPU
2) RAM
3) HDD

but as others have said, there is an argument for cache and GPU

 

[js81]

I see it like this, from my experience. YMMV.

1) Amount of RAM. (IMHO, RAM makes the biggest difference on ANY system)
2) HD speed. (Not just RPM, too - consider cache size.)
3) CPU speed.

 

[Techhie]

1. CPU cores, bus speed, clock speed, cache
2. Amount of RAM and it's running clock
3. Hard drive speed, not capacity

One could also make a valid argument for GPU, depending on the operating system running. Going without QE/CI can be very aggravating

 

[Freyqq]

for games:

1. GPU
2. CPU
3. RAM

for everything else:

1. CPU
2. RAM
3. HD speed

 

[bcburrows]

I am sure your teacher wants to hear
1) CPU
2) RAM
3) HDD

but as others have said, there is an argument for cache and GPU

Am now starting to wonder if motherboard/logicboard has a greater impact than HDD?

Thoughts anyone?

 

[bjorn989]

It all depends on which one is the bottleneck in the particular system configuration. Hard drive speed has been raised here because it is often the bottleneck in many (especially laptop) systems where large files are used or large read/write functions are performed.

A computer will only be as fast as its slowest component. If you have a Mac Pro with 32 GB RAM, top spec 8 core processor and 4 Graphics cards, yet stick one of those piddly little 1.8" hard drives from a Macbook Air you will notice the machine running a bit slow. This could lead to the person who owns this hypothetical machine to say that the hard drive is what affects performance.

I reckon it is a stupid question to be asking a computer class really. You should be treated with more respect than that.

 

[Umbongo]

Am now starting to wonder if motherboard/logicboard has a greater impact than HDD?

Thoughts anyone?

Not in the sense this question is intended.

 

[gnasher729]

i'm not doing anything with the computer...it's a question i had for class

Tell your teacher that his or her question is much too simplistic. By concentrating on "specs" (what an awful word), the really important things are missed.

The most important factor affecting the user's ability to achieve results is the user interface. Consistency, discoverability, forgiveness, adaptability, possible automation (scriptability), all these are much more important than any stupid "specs".

 

[macrumorsMaster]

Tell your teacher that his or her question is much too simplistic. By concentrating on "specs" (what an awful word), the really important things are missed.

The most important factor affecting the user's ability to achieve results is the user interface. Consistency, discoverability, forgiveness, adaptability, possible automation (scriptability), all these are much more important than any stupid "specs".

The question was about HARDWARE not software.

Most likely the teacher wants to hear about cpu, bus speed, and hd. There may be others as well (e.g. cache..and where the cache is located)

 

[rhinosrcool]

The question was a good question. As others have stated: CPU, HDD, and RAM.
Of course other things can have an impact.

 

[Peace]

I've always called it like Ballmer would talk

It's All About Bandwidth,It's All About Bandwidth,It's All About Bandwidth.

 

[RayK]

Depends on what you're doing.

 

[spencecb]

For a lot of people out there, the processor doesn't even matter. Especially when you are talking about a Mac, since all the computers are at least dual core. The biggest performance game are going to be in the RAM and HDD. Desktops are always better performance for the money. That's why I love iMac!!!!

 

[doctoree]

GPU, GPU and GPU

 

[pesc]

The speed of your internet connection and your printer!

Seriously, it depends on what you are doing. If you are filesharing or printing a book, the specs I mentioned are far more important than CPU, GPU, memory or disk speed.

 

[J&JPolangin]

...what grade level is this class?