Model
The specific model of the processor installed in the PC, or rather, its index within its series (see "Processor"). The full model name consists of the series name and this index — for example, Intel Core i3 3220; knowing this name, you can find detailed information about the processor (characteristics, reviews, etc.) and determine how suitable it is for your purposes.
Speed
Clock speed of the CPU installed in the PC.
In theory, higher clock speeds have a positive effect on performance because they allow the CPU to perform more operations per unit of time. However, this indicator is rather weakly related to real productivity. The fact is that the actual capabilities of the CPU strongly depend on a number of other factors - the overall architecture, cache size, number of cores, support for special instructions, etc. As a result, you can compare by this indicator only chips from the same or similar series (see “CPU”), and ideally, also from the same generation. And that's pretty approximate.
TurboBoost / TurboCore
Processor clock speed when running in TurboBoost or TurboCore mode.
Turbo Boost technology is used in Intel processors, Turbo Core — AMD. The essence of this technology is the same both there and there: if some of the cores work under high load, and some are idle, then some tasks are transferred from more loaded cores to less loaded ones, which improves performance. This usually increases the clock frequency of the processor; this value is indicated in this paragraph. See above for more information on clock speed in general.
Graphics card model
The main manufacturers of video cards nowadays are
AMD,
NVIDIA and Intel, and each has its own specifics. NVIDIA produces primarily discrete solutions; Among the most common are
the GeForce MX1xx,
GeForce MX3xx,
GeForce GTX 10xx series (in particular
GTX 1050,
GTX 1050 Ti and
GTX 1060),
GeForce GTX 16xx,
GeForce RTX 20xx,
GeForce RTX 30xx(
GeForce RTX 3060,
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti,
GeForce RTX 3070,
GeForce RTX 3070 Ti,
GeForce RTX 3080,
GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, GeForce RTX 3090,
GeForce RTX 3090 Ti),
GeForce RTX 4060 , GeForce RTX 4060 Ti,
GeForce RTX 4070,
GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER,
GeForce RTX 4070 Ti,
GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER,
Ge Force RTX 4080,
GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER,
GeForce RTX 4090 and separate
Quadro series. AMD offers both discrete and integrated graphics - including the popular
Radeon RX 500,
Radeon RX 5000,
Radeon RX 6000 and
AMD Radeon Pro series. And Intel deals exclusively with modules integrated into processors of its own production - these can be HD Graphics, UHD Graphics and Iris.
Note that many configurations with discrete graphics also have an integrated graphics module; in such cases, the name of the discrete video card is indicated as more advanced.
USB C 3.2 gen2
The number of
USB-C 3.2 gen2 connectors(previously labeled USB-C 3.1 gen2 and USB-C 3.1) provided on the back of the PC; respectively, the number of devices with such plugs that can be simultaneously connected to the rear panel without the use of splitters.
USB-C was created as an improvement on the classic USB plug: it is noticeably smaller and has a reversible design that allows you to connect the plug in either direction. And version 3.2 gen2 allows you to achieve speeds up to 10 Gbps and power supply up to 100 W (due to the USB Power Delivery function). These capabilities are enough even for the most demanding modern devices with a USB-C connection.
Separately, it is worth noting that USB-C ports can be placed on the front side of the case. However, for peripherals that need to be constantly connected to the computer, it is more convenient to use the rear panel, while the front placement is better suited for frequent connection / disconnection.
Thunderbolt
The version and number of Thunderbolt connectors provided in the PC design (usually on the rear panel).
Initially, Thunderbolt is a universal interface, used mainly in Apple technology. It can be used both as a general peripheral connector (similar to USB) and as a video output; in this case, video is output according to the DisplayPort standard, which allows you to connect monitors with the corresponding inputs (sometimes directly, sometimes through simple adapters). And different versions of Thunderbolt differ mainly in the maximum connection speed and connector type. Legacy Thunderbolt v1 and
Thunderbolt v2 use the miniDisplayPort socket and provide up to 10 and up to 20 Gbps, respectively. And
Thunderbolt v3 and
Thunderbolt v4, which support speeds up to 40 Gbps, operate over USB C; Often such a connector in a PC is combined and can function both as USB itself and as Thunderbolt, depending on the connected peripherals.
— Thunderbolt 3. Version introduced in 2015. In this generation, developers abandoned the DisplayPort connector in favor of the more universal USB C. In light of this, the Thunderbolt v3 connection is often implemented not as a separate connector, but as a special mode of operation of the standard USB C port (see “Alternate Mode”). And outputs and devices for USB4 (see above) can initially be made compatible with this interface (altho
...ugh this is not strictly necessary). Also optional, but a very common feature is support for Power Delivery, which allows you to supply connected devices with up to 100 W of power over the same cable. The data transfer speed can reach 40 Gbit/s, but it is worth considering that with a wire length of more than 0.5 m, a special active cable may be required to maintain this speed. However, regular passive USB C cables are also suitable for working with Thunderbolt v3 - except that the speed may be noticeably lower than the maximum possible (albeit higher than the 20 Gbps at which USB 3.2 gen2 operates).
- Thunderbolt v4. The newest (as of mid-2022) version of this interface, presented in the summer of the same year. It also uses a USB C connector. Formally, the maximum throughput remains the same as its predecessor - 40 Gbps; however, thanks to a number of improvements, actual connectivity has improved markedly. Thus, Thunderbolt v4 allows you to simultaneously broadcast a signal to two 4K monitors (at least) and provides a data transfer speed according to the PCI-E standard of no lower than 32 Gbps (versus 16 Gbps in the previous version). In addition, this interface is mutually compatible with USB4 by default, and the daisy chain function is complemented by the ability to connect hubs with up to 4 Thunderbolt v4 ports. Other features include protection against DMA (direct memory access) attacks.USB 3.2 gen1
The number of full-size
USB 3.2 gen1 connectors(previously labeled USB 3.1 gen1 and USB 3.0) provided on the front panel of the PC.
USB is the most popular modern interface for connecting peripherals. And the number of connectors is, accordingly, the number of devices that can be simultaneously connected to the front panel without the use of splitters. As for version 3.2 gen1, it has speeds up to 4.8 Gbps). USB 3.2 gen1 connectors are also compatible with USB 2.0 peripherals. Thus,
2 or more such connectors are often provided on the front panel at once.
Separately, it is worth noting that similar ports are most often available on the back of the case. However, the front panel is closer to the user, the connectors on it are optimally suited for peripherals that need to be connected and disconnected frequently, such as flash drives.
USB C 3.2 gen1
The number of
USB-C 3.2 gen1 connectors(previously labeled USB-C 3.1 gen1 and USB-C 3.0) provided on the front panel of the PC; respectively, the number of devices with such plugs that can be simultaneously connected to the front panel without the use of splitters.
USB-C was created as an improvement on the classic USB plug: it is noticeably smaller and has a reversible design that allows you to connect the plug in either direction. And version 3.2 gen1 allows you to achieve data transfer rates up to 4.8 Gbps; in fact, this is the most modest version of the USB connection used in modern USB-C type ports, however, even such characteristics are more than sufficient for most external devices with this type of connector.
Separately, it is worth noting that USB-C ports can also be provided on the back of the case. However, the front panel is closer to the user, the connectors on it are optimally suited for peripherals that need to be connected and disconnected frequently, such as flash drives.
Card reader
The presence of
a card reader — a device for reading memory cards — on the front panel of the PC.
Memory cards are used as a standard storage medium in modern cameras, and are also often used in various gadgets (smartphones, tablets, players, action cameras / DVRs, etc.) as additional or even primary storage. The presence of a card reader greatly facilitates the exchange of information between a PC or such devices — for example, copying photos and videos from a camera or updating the music collection on a smartphone. Note that card readers in modern PCs are almost guaranteed to support SD / MMC cards, but compatibility with other formats (including advanced versions of SD, like SDXC) should be specified separately. However, many computers are initially able to work with 5 – 6 types of cards at once, sometimes quite specific ones.
