The operating speed of a computer is measured in megahertz. One megahertz (usually shortened to MHz) is equal to one million electrical vibrations or cycles per second.
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The first IBM personal computer, introduced in 1981, ran at 4.77 megahertz. Today's IBM Aptiva has a speed of 166 MHz. Sony, which has just entered the personal computer market, offers machines that run at a zippy 200 MHz.Why does your computer's megahertz matter? Because it is a measure of the speed of the internal clock of your computer's microprocessor. It indicates whether the machine will run like a Ferrari or a Volkswagen once it's on your desk.