technology in action chapter 6

Technology in ActionTechnology in Action

Chapter 6Chapter 6

Understanding and Assessing Hardware: Understanding and Assessing Hardware: Evaluating Your System Evaluating Your System

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall

Chapter Topics Chapter Topics

• To buy or to upgrade?• Evaluating your system

– CPU– RAM– Storage devices– Video card– Sound card

• System reliability


To Buy or to Upgrade?To Buy or to Upgrade?

• Things to consider– Moore’s Law– Cost of

upgrading vs. buying

– Time to install software and files

– Needs and wants


To Buy or to Upgrade?To Buy or to Upgrade?

• Determine your ideal computer system

• Assess existing computer’s subsystems– CPU– RAM– Storage devices– Video– Audio

• Consider training needs


Desktop or NotebookDesktop or Notebook

• Desktop– Hard to move

around– Less expensive– Harder to steal– Easier to expand

and upgrade– Difficult to transport

• Notebook– Portable– More expensive– Easily stolen– Difficult to upgrade– Easy external

expansion– Prone to damage


How Does the CPU Work?How Does the CPU Work?

• The CPU is composed of two units: the The CPU is composed of two units: the control unitcontrol unit and the and the arithmetic logic unit (ALU)arithmetic logic unit (ALU).. • The control unit coordinates the activities of all the The control unit coordinates the activities of all the

other computer components. other computer components. • The ALU is responsible for performing arithmetic The ALU is responsible for performing arithmetic

calculations and makes logic and comparison calculations and makes logic and comparison decisions, such as comparing items to determine if decisions, such as comparing items to determine if one is greater than, less than, equal to, or not equal one is greater than, less than, equal to, or not equal to another.to another.


How Does the CPU Work?How Does the CPU Work?

• Every time the CPU performs a program Every time the CPU performs a program instruction, it goes through the same instruction, it goes through the same series of steps, called a series of steps, called a machine cyclemachine cycle::

1.1. ffetchesetches the required piece of data or instruction the required piece of data or instruction from RAM. from RAM.

2.2. decodesdecodes the instruction into something the the instruction into something the computer can understand. computer can understand.

3.3. executesexecutes the instruction. the instruction.

4.4. storesstores the result to RAM before fetching the next the result to RAM before fetching the next instruction.instruction.


Differentiating CPUsDifferentiating CPUs

• Processing power– Core: A complete processing section from a

CPU embedded into the same physical chip– Clock speed: How quickly the processor works– Cache: The amount of immediate access

memory the CPU has– Front side bus: connects the processor to

system memory


Evaluating the CPUEvaluating the CPU

• Identify your current CPU- as well as its speed, by accessing the system properties. You can go to the manufacturer’s Web site for more detailed information.

• Determine whether it is meeting your needs– Go to Task Manager to review CPU usage

• Consider how quickly data moves to or from the CPU


Evaluating RAMEvaluating RAM• Random access memory (RAM)

– Temporary storage (memory)– Volatile• RAM has a significant impact on the overall RAM has a significant impact on the overall

performance of your computer.performance of your computer.• Memory modules fit on motherboard

– Most are called dual inline memory modules (DIMMs)

• DDR2• DDR3• SRAM• DRAM , SDRAM


How Much RAM Do You Need?How Much RAM Do You Need?• Physical memory vs. kernel memory• The memory that your operating system uses is referred

to as kernel memory. • Need RAM for operating system, application software,

and data• Sample RAM requirements:

Application Minimum RAM Required

Windows 7 1000 MB

Microsoft Office Professional 2007 256 MB

Internet Explorer 8 128 MB

iTunes 256 MB

Adobe Photoshop Elements 512 MB

Total RAM required to run all programs simultaneously

2,152 MB or 2.15 GB


Virtual MemoryVirtual Memory

• Memory-bound system

• Virtual memory

• Page file

• Drawback = speed

• Increasing RAM can avoid this problem


Adding RAMAdding RAM

• In addition, the OS running on your machine might In addition, the OS running on your machine might impose its own limits. To identify these limits, check impose its own limits. To identify these limits, check

your owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s Web siteyour owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s Web site..

• Things to consider– Type of RAM module– Amount of RAM

• Maximum limit• Number of slots• Operating system


StorageStorage

• Types of storage devices Hard drive USB flash drive Optical drive External hard drive

• Nonvolatile storage


The Hard DriveThe Hard Drive

• Storage capacity is up to 2 terabytes (TB)• The hard drive’s access time, or the time it takes The hard drive’s access time, or the time it takes

a storage device to locate its stored data and a storage device to locate its stored data and make it available for processing, is the fastest make it available for processing, is the fastest among all permanent storage devices. among all permanent storage devices.

• Access time is measured in milliseconds• Data transfer rate is measured in megabits or

megabytes per second


How a Hard Disk WorksHow a Hard Disk Works• Composed of coated

platters stacked on a spindle

• Data saved to the disk: Pattern of magnetized spots– Spots = 1– Spaces = 0

• Spots are translated into data

Read/write head

Access arms


Evaluating StorageEvaluating Storage

• Identify your hard drive’s total capacity

• Determine your storage capacity needs

• Consider data transfer rates– Internal– External


Optical StorageOptical Storage• Optical media: Store data as tiny pits burned into a disc

by a laser Prerecorded (read only optical disc)

• CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, BD-ROM Recordable

• CD-R, DVD-R, BD-R• blank and can be written to or burned with a CD rewritable blank and can be written to or burned with a CD rewritable

drivedrive Rewritable(read/writeable format)

• CD-RW, DVD-RW, BD-RE• start blank but can be rewritten or reburned several times. start blank but can be rewritten or reburned several times.

• Consider replacing CD/DVD drive with BD burner


Evaluating VideoEvaluating Video

• Two components Video card (adapter) Monitor • Display files that have complex

graphics/play graphics-rich games with a lot of fast action, you might want to consider upgrading your video subsystem.


Video CardsVideo Cards• Process binary data into images• Contain own memory known as video memory• Control the number of colors a monitor can

display (bit depth)– Standard VGA 4-bit video card displays 16 colors

– True color 24-bit cards, displaying 24-bit cards, displaying

over 16 million colors.over 16 million colors.


Graphics Processing UnitGraphics Processing Unit

• Performs the same work as a CPU

• Specialized to handle– 3D graphics– Image and video processing

• CPUs perform better with a GPU handling graphics computation.


Evaluating VideoEvaluating Video

• Identify the amount of video memory on your video card

• Determine your video needs

• Consider how many monitors you want to use


Evaluating AudioEvaluating Audio• Sound cards

Attach to motherboard Process digital data into

sounds 3D sound cards Surround sound Port on the sound card

allow you to connect audio devices


Evaluating System ReliabilityEvaluating System Reliability

• Performance problems– Slow– Freezes– Crashes

• Upkeep and maintenance– System tools– Control Panel– Update software


Upkeep and MaintenanceUpkeep and Maintenance

• Clean out your Startup folder

• Clear out unnecessary files

• Run spyware/adware programs

• Run the Disk Defragmenter utility


Update Software andUpdate Software andHardware DriversHardware Drivers

• Software– Patches – Automatic updates

• Hardware– Download updated drivers


The Last ResortThe Last Resort

• If problems persist:– Upgrade the operating system to the latest

version– Reinstall the operating system


The Final DecisionThe Final Decision

• How closely does your system meet your needs?

• How much would it cost to upgrade your system?

• How much would it cost to purchase a new system?


Chapter 6 Summary QuestionsChapter 6 Summary Questions

• How can I determine whether I should upgrade my existing computer or buy a new one?



• What does the CPU do, and how can I evaluate its performance?



• How does memory work in my computer, and how can I evaluate how much memory I need?



• What are the computer’s main storage devices, and how can I evaluate whether they match my needs?



• What components affect the output of video on my computer, and how can I evaluate whether they match my needs?



• What components affect the quality of sound on my computer, and how can I evaluate whether they match my needs?



• How can I improve the reliability of my system?


Chapter 1Chapter 6 3737

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Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice HallPublishing as Prentice Hall

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