ICT

BYOD at BSC

Choosing the right device for your student can be a difficult task. Processing power, memory, storage, battery life and size all play an equally important part. This week, we’re going to talk about what to look for when purchasing a Windows device, as well as a small explanation on what each component does.

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

The CPU is the brain of the computer, the faster it can process, the faster the computer will run. CPU manufacturers (Intel and AMD) both have product names to indicate how powerful they are.

Intel: (lowest) Atom, Celeron, Pentium, i3, i5, i7 (highest)

AMD: (lowest) A-Series, Athlon, Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5, Ryzen 7 (highest)

RAM (Memory)

RAM is related to multitasking, having more ram allows you to have more programs open at the same time. 4gb of memory is enough for basic tasks, however, more demanding tasks such as photo editing will require at least 8gb.

Storage (SSD/eMMC/HDD)

Storage is where your files and programs are saved and accessed. We highly recommend using SSDs or eMMC over HDDs, as they improve overall performance by up to 5x.

Device Size

The Size of a device is often an overlooked factor. 11-14 inches tends to be the sweet spot for notebook, and 9-12 inches for a tablet. If the device is larger than this, it will be less convenient to carry to classes.