Technology In Action

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1

Technology In Action

Chapter 5Evaluating Your System:

Understanding and Assessing Hardware


Chapter Topics To buy or upgrade? Evaluating your system:

CPU RAM Storage devices Video output Sound systems Computer ports

System reliability


Common Byte Measurements

Patterns of binary digits represent both the computer instructions and computer data

1 byte = 8 bits 1 KiloByte = 2^10 bytes = 1024 bytes 1 MegaByte = 2^20 bytes = 1024 KB = ~1 million bytes 1 GigaByte = 2^30 bytes = 1024 MB = ~1 billion bytes 1 TeraByte = 2^40 bytes = 1024 GB = ~1 trillion bytes 1 PetaByte = 2^50 bytes = 1024 TB = ~1000 trillion

bytes 1 ExaByte = 2^60 bytes = 1024 PB = ~ 1 quintillion bytes

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


Moore’s Law Moore’s Law

Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel Want your computer to be twice as fast? Wait two

years, buy a new one… In other words, amount of circuitry on a particular

chip approximately doubles every eighteen months.

Laws of Physics say this must end soon Electrical Components have a limit to how small

they can be Will Moore’s Law give out in your lifetime?

Moore speaks about Moore's Law


The CPU: Processing Digital Information

The CPU is the brain of the computer

Different types of CPUs Intel and AMD chips: Used in

Windows-based PCs Apple systems use different

CPU design

Differentiating CPUs Processing power Clock speed Electricity needed


Evaluating the CPU What can you do to the

CPU to improve performance? System Clock Speed:

MHz GHz


How busy is your CPU?

Windows Task Manager

Performance tab


Upgrading the CPU Expensive Easy to install

(ZIF socket) Motherboard

compatibility


Today’s Microprocessors The more powerful a CPU is, the more circuitry

is needed to make the CPU work Such a large amount of circuitry in such a small,

concentrated area generates A LOT of heat!!! Most modern processors require heat sinks

and/or fans to keep their temperature in a safe range

Keep your computer in cool, clean area, vacuum it out once in a while, don’t block ventilation vents



Evaluating Other Features

CPU speed is not the only factor in your computer's performance Amount of RAM Hard drive speed and size Speed of video card Speed of Internet connection


How Much Ram is Needed?

All running processes need RAMincluding the operating system

PF Usage rate (virtual memory) if high, need more real RAM

Look at Available Physical Memory to see how much real RAM you have


Adding RAM

will increase system performance

Things to consider: Type of RAM module Amount of RAM:

Number of slots - Motherboard Operating system - how much

can it handle? how many applications

running at the same time?


Evaluating Storage

Types of storage devices: Hard drive Floppy drive CD/DVD Flash memory

All are Nonvolatile storage


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 thousands of revolutions per minute (rpm)

Subject to head crashes!


Hard Disk Controllers

controller = electronics that transfer instructions and data to and from the disk

EIDE, SCSI - older SATA - newer, faster - 3 Gb/sec

serial advanced technology attachment drive must be compatible with

controller on motherboard


RAM vs. Hard drive speeds RAM speed is often expressed in

nanoseconds (one billionth of a second) Amount of time required to access data in

RAM Hard Drive speed is often measured in

milliseconds (one thousandth of a second) Amount of time required to access data on

disk Typical RAM is millions of times faster!


Cache Memory

Small amount of memory located on the CPU chip or near it

Stores recent or frequently used instructions and data

Used for quick access by the CPU

Different levels of cache Distance from CPU


Memory / Storage Pyramid Fastest data access

at the top of the pyramid, slower as you go down

Most expensive at the top of the pyramid, cheaper as you go down

RAM / cache = "memory"


Optical Storage Optical media:

-ROM -R -RW

Laser beam "Pits" scatter laser

light equaling a 1

"Lands" (nonpitted area) reflects laser light equaling a 0


Different Optical Formats

CD vs. DVD High Density DVD Blu-Ray

named for color of laser used most Blu-Ray readers can read other

DVDs higher capacity than HD DVD, 50 GB


Portable Storage Gives the ability to

move data from one computer to another

Types of portable storage devices: Floppy disk:

Capacity 1.44 MB CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R,

DVD-RW: Capacity 700 MB to 9.4 GB

Flash drive and cards: Capacity 256 MB to 32 GB


Treatment of media

Floppies / Zip Disks / Hard drives Watch out for magnets! heat, contaminants

CDs/DVDs scratches heat, contaminants

Flash sticks static electricity - keep cap on when not in

use


Evaluating Ports

Ports are used to connect peripheral devices to the computer

Things to consider: Devices you want to use Ports needed for the devices


Universal serial bus

hot swapping 1.1 and 2.0

versions 1.1 = 12 Mbits/s 2.0 = 480 Mbits/s

Powered vs. non-powered

can chain together

USB Port

USB Connector

USB hub


FireWire High speed transfer

of audio and video data (Apple created)

First version 400 Mbits/s, newer version 800 Mbits/s

Comparable with USB in speeds

FireWire Port

FireWire Connector


Types of Ports

Ethernet Transfer rates range

from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps; newest 1Gbps

connects computers to LAN or cable modem

created at Xerox PARC 1973-75

Ethernet Port

Ethernet jack


IrDA

Uses infrared light waves

Transfer rate of 4 Mbps

being replaced by Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

useful where radio would cause interference

IrDA


Bluetooth Radio waves send

data over short distances

meant to replace cables, 1-2 Mbits/s

security risk of instant connection when within range

Bluetooth


Make a system more reliable

Clean out your Startup folder Delete unnecessary files - Disk cleanup Use anti-spyware and antivirus

software Use the disk defragmenter Keep software updated

OS, browser, antivirus, device drivers Keep your system cool and clean


Computers in the Environment

Green Computing Adopting policies which conserve and

recycle resources as well as have minimal impact on the environment

Turn your computer off Don’t put old computers in landfills Donate old equipment Recycle printer cartridges and paper Buy "Green Star" equipment Telecommute


Computers in the Environment

Chip manufacture Computer chips and CPUs are made of silicon Intel "How chips are made" Acids, powerful lasers, and hazardous

chemicals are used to etch circuitry onto silicon wafers

Chip production takes place in a clean room to keep chips from being contaminated and to keep hazardous materials from escaping

Chip production is largely done by robots to keep from exposing humans to the hazards of the plant


A Clean Room

Documents

Technology In Action