Technology In Action 2008 PrenticeHall Inc 1 Technology

Technology In Action © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1

Technology In Action Chapter 6 Evaluating Your System: Understanding and Assessing Hardware © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 2

Chapter Topics To buy or upgrade? Evaluating your system: CPU RAM Storage devices Video output Sound systems Computer ports System reliability © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 3

To Buy or To Upgrade? Things to consider: Moore’s Law Cost of upgrading vs. buying Time installing software and files Needs and wants © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 4

Assessing Your Hardware: Evaluating Your System Assess the computer’s subsystems The subsystems include CPU RAM Virtual memory Storage devices Video Audio Ports © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 5

Evaluating the CPU How does the CPU work? Control unit Arithmetic logic unit (ALU) Machine cycle: �Instruction Cycle �Fetch �Decode �Execution Cycle �Execute �Store Speed: �MHz �GHz © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 6

Evaluating Other CPU Features Some CPUs are optimized to process multimedia instructions Intel CPUs called Core Duo processors Use less power than dual processors Increase multitasking performance Intel has more than 17 other designs for chips with more than one core © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 7

Upgrading the CPU Expensive Easy to install Motherboard compatibility Rarely worthwhile— just get a new computer © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 8

Evaluating RAM Random access memory (RAM): Temporary storage (memory) Volatile Memory modules: SIMM DIMM RIMM Types of RAM: SRAM DRAM SDRAM © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 9

How Much Ram is Needed? RAM for System Software RAM for Productivity Software RAM for Entertainment RAM for Graphics Programs System Software Windows XP 128 MB Productivity Software MS Office Pro 128 MB Entertainment Software Windows Media Player 64 MB Graphics 128 MB © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. MS Picture It! 10

Adding RAM Increase system performance Things to consider: Type of RAM module Amount of RAM: �Maximum limit �Number of slots �Operating system �Applications running at the same time © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 11

Evaluating Storage Types of storage devices: Hard drive Floppy drive Zip disk drive CD/DVD Flash memory These are all Nonvolatile storage devices – they remember when the power is off © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 12

The Hard Disk Drive Storage capacity up to 500 GB Access time is measured in milliseconds Data transfer rate is measured in megabits or megabytes per second Spindle speed is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm) © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 13

How a Hard Disk Works Composed of several coated platters stacked on a spindle Data saved to the disk: pattern of magnetized spots Platters Read/write head – Spots = 1 – Spaces = 0 Between platters are read/write heads that read and write magnetized data Spots are translated into data Access arms © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 14

Portable Storage Gives us the ability to move data from one computer to another Types of portable storage devices: Floppy disk: �Capacity 1. 44 MB Zip disk: �Capacity 100 MB to 750 MB CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-RW: �Capacity 700 MB to 9. 4 GB Flash drive: �Capacity 32 MB to 1 GB Flash memory Card: �Up to 4 GB © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 15

Magnetic Storage Magnetic media: Metal platters: �Hard disks Plastic film: �Floppy disks �Zip disks Tracks Sectors © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Track Sector 16

Optical Storage Optical media: CD-ROM CD-RW DVD-ROM DVD-RW Laser Pits scatter laser light equaling a 1 Nonpitted area reflects laser light equaling a 0 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 17

Upgrading Storage Hard drive options: Replace current drive with a larger capacity drive Install an additional hard drive Other options: Zip drive Replace CD ROM with CD-R/RW or DVD-R/RW Flash card reader Flash memory drive © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 18

Evaluating Video Two components: Video card (adapter) Monitor © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 19

Video Cards Process binary data into images Contain memory known as video RAM (VRAM) Control the number of colors a monitor can display (bit depth) Standard VGA 4 bits 16 colors True color (SVGA) 24 bits 16 million colors © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 20

Monitors Things to consider: Types: �CRT or LCD Size: 15, 17, 19, or 21 inch Resolution: �Increasing resolution allows more to be displayed Dot pitch: �. 31 mm or less recommended Refresh rate: � 75 Hz or higher © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 21

Evaluating Audio Sound card: Process digital data into sounds 3 D sound cards �Better than stereo �Common Surround sound �Dolby Digital 5. 1 � 8 speakers �Better than 3 D © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 22

Evaluating Audio Speakers: Amplified Not amplified Subwoofer Surround sound © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 23

Evaluating Ports are used to connect peripheral devices to the computer Things to consider: Devices you want to use Ports needed for the devices © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 24

Types of Ports Serial Port Transfers data one bit at a time; 56 Kbps PS/2 Port COM 1 Port © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 25 PS/2 Connectors Serial Connector

Types of Ports Parallel Transfers eight bits of data simultaneously; 12 Mbps © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. LPT 1 Port Printer Cable Connector 26

Types of Ports Universal serial bus Transfer speed up to 480 Mbps; hot swapping © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. USB Port USB Connector 27

Types of Ports Fire. Wire Transfer rate of 400 Mbps; Digital cameras Newer Fire. Wire 800 is fastest �Available only on the Apple Mac © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Fire. Wire Port Fire. Wire Connector 28

Types of Ports Ethernet Transfer rate of 100 Mbps; connects computers to networks © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Ethernet Port Ethernet jack 29

Types of Ports Ir. DA Transfer rate of 4 Mbps; Uses infrared light waves Ir. DA © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 30

Types of Ports Bluetooth Transfer rate of 1 Mbps; radio waves send data over short distances Bluetooth © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 31

Types of Ports MIDI Port Musical Instrument Digital Interface 31. 5 Kbps transfer rate © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 32

Adding Ports Expansion cards: New port standards Expansion hubs: Enables several devices to be connected to a port © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 33

Evaluating System Reliability Performance: Slow Freezes Crashes Upkeep and maintenance: System tools Control panel Update software and hardware drivers © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 34

Upkeep and Maintenance System tools: Disk defragmenter Disk cleanup �Unnecessary files Control panel: Add/remove programs Display System �Device manager © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 35

Update Software and Hardware Drivers Software: Automatic updates Patches Hardware: Download updated drivers © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 36

The Last Resort If problems persist: Reinstall the operating system Upgrade the operating system to the latest version © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 37

The Final Decision How closely does your system come to meeting your needs? How much would it cost to upgrade your system? How much would it cost to purchase a new system? © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 38