5. Categories, units of measure and examples

Category What it measures Typical Unit(s) Example Explanation (simple English)
Processor (CPU) Speed / frequency GHz (gigahertz) 3.0 GHz The number of billions of cycles per second. The higher, the faster the processor.
Memory (RAM) Temporary working memory GB (gigabytes) 8 GB How much data the computer can handle at the same time. More RAM → better multitasking.
Storage Permanent data capacity GB or TB (gigabytes / terabytes) 512 GB SSD or 1 TB HDD Where programs and files are saved. SSD = faster, HDD = larger but slower.
Graphics (GPU) Video memory (VRAM) GB (gigabytes) 6 GB VRAM Amount of memory for images, video, or 3D games.
Display / Monitor Screen size and resolution Inches (″) + pixels (e.g., 1920 × 1080) 15.6″ Full HD The size of the screen and how clear the image is.
Optical Drive Reading/writing speed x (speed multiplier) 48× CD-RW “×” means times faster than the original CD speed.
Battery (laptops) Battery life Hours (h) 10 h How long the computer can run without charging.
Weight (laptops) Portability kg / lb 1.8 kg How heavy the computer is.
Ports / Connectivity Transfer speed Gbps (gigabits per second) USB 3.0 = 5 Gbps How fast data moves between devices.
Price Cost € / $ €899 How much it costs (currency).