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The processor speed refers to how fast your computer is able to process information and provide you, the user, with the output result; it’s measured in gigahertz (GHz). The more complicated the task, the longer it takes the computer to provide you with output. Online courses that use more complicated materials, such as audio and video files, require a faster processor speed — in other words, more gigahertz.

Computers purchased within the past two years should have no problem meeting the processor speed requirements. If your computer is an older model, you should double-check to be sure its processor is fast enough.

Most computers have a screen that summarizes its physical makeup:

 If you’re using a computer with Windows 10: You can type system on the search bar at the bottom of the Windows desktop. Then click the System Information app when it appears. If you have a File Explorer window open, you can also right-click directly on the This PC link in the navigation pane on the left (see the sidebar “A quickie on right-clicking,” later in this chapter) and then choose Properties from the menu that appears. This takes you to a screen that summarizes the computer’s operating system version, processor speed, and memory amount. (See Figure 3-1.) Note that other versions of the Windows operating system may require different steps to find the same information.FIGURE 3-1: A summary of the physical makeup of a computer with Windows Vista.

 Mac users: You can click on the apple (top left of the menu bar) and then choose the About This Mac option from the menu that appears, to see a similar summary. (See Figure 3-2.)

FIGURE 3-2: A summary of the physical makeup of a computer with Mac OS X.