Hardware Almanac
Understand the components that power your work.
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
The brain of the computer. It handles logic, calculations, and running applications.
💡Look for core count for multitasking and clock speed for single-app performance.
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)
Specialized for rendering images and parallel processing (AI/ML).
💡VRAM (Video RAM) is critical for AI models and high-res video editing.
NPU (Neural Processing Unit)
A specialized chip designed to accelerate AI tasks efficiently.
💡Increasingly important for local AI features in modern OS and creative tools.
RAM (Random Access Memory)
Short-term memory. Stores data for active programs.
💡More RAM allows you to run more heavy apps simultaneously without slowing down.
Storage (SSD/NVMe)
Long-term memory. Where your files and OS live.
💡Always choose NVMe SSDs over HDDs for speed. Gen4/Gen5 are the fastest.