Technology In ActionSlide 2TopicsTo Buy or To Upgrade?Assessing Your Hardware: Evaluating Your SystemEvaluating the CPUUpgrading the CPUEvaluating RAMHow Much Ram is NeededAdding RAMEvaluating StorageThe Hard Disk DriveHow a Hard Disk WorksPortable StorageMagnetic StorageOptical StorageUpgrading StorageEvaluating VideoVideo CardsMonitorsEvaluating AudioSlide 22Evaluating PortsTypes of PortsSlide 25Slide 26Slide 27Slide 28Slide 29Slide 30Slide 31Adding PortsEvaluating System ReliabilityUpkeep and MaintenanceUpdate Software and Hardware DriversThe Last ResortThe Final DecisionChapter 6 Summary QuestionsSlide 39Slide 40Slide 41Slide 42Slide 43Slide 44Slide 451 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Technology In ActionTechnology In Action2 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Technology In ActionTechnology In ActionChapter 6Chapter 6Evaluating Your System: Evaluating Your System: Understanding and Assessing HardwareUnderstanding and Assessing Hardware3 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Topics Topics •To buy or upgrade?To buy or upgrade?•Evaluating your system: Evaluating your system: –CPUCPU–RAMRAM–Storage devicesStorage devices–Video outputVideo output–Sound systemsSound systems–Computer portsComputer ports•System reliabilitySystem reliability4 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc.To Buy or To Upgrade?To Buy or To Upgrade?•Things to consider:Things to consider:–Moore’s LawMoore’s Law–Cost of upgrading vs. buyingCost of upgrading vs. buying–Time installing software and filesTime installing software and files–Needs and wantsNeeds and wants5 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Assessing Your Hardware: Assessing Your Hardware: Evaluating Your SystemEvaluating Your System•Assess the computer’s subsystemsAssess the computer’s subsystems•The subsystems include:The subsystems include:–CPUCPU–RAMRAM–Virtual memoryVirtual memory–Storage devicesStorage devices–VideoVideo–AudioAudio–PortsPorts6 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Evaluating the CPUEvaluating the CPU•How does the CPU work?How does the CPU work?–Control unitControl unit–Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)–Machine cycle:Machine cycle:•Instruction CycleInstruction Cycle–FetchFetch–DecodeDecode•Execution CycleExecution Cycle–ExecuteExecute–Store Store –Speed:Speed:•MhzMhz•GhzGhz7 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Upgrading the CPUUpgrading the CPU•Expensive Expensive •Easy to installEasy to install•Motherboard Motherboard compatibilitycompatibility8 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Evaluating RAMEvaluating RAM•Random access memory (RAM):Random access memory (RAM):–Temporary storage (memory)Temporary storage (memory)–VolatileVolatile•Memory modules:Memory modules:–SIMMSIMM–DIMMDIMM–RIMMRIMM•Types of RAM:Types of RAM:–SRAMSRAM–DRAMDRAM–SDRAMSDRAM9 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc.How Much Ram is NeededHow Much Ram is Needed•RAM for System SoftwareRAM for System Software•RAM for Productivity SoftwareRAM for Productivity Software•RAM for EntertainmentRAM for Entertainment•RAM for Graphics ProgramsRAM for Graphics ProgramsSystem SoftwareSystem SoftwareWindows XPWindows XP128 MB128 MBProductivity SoftwareProductivity SoftwareMS Office ProMS Office Pro128 MB128 MBEntertainment SoftwareEntertainment SoftwareWindows Media PlayerWindows Media Player64 MB64 MBGraphicsGraphicsMS Picture It!MS Picture It!128 MB128 MB10 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Adding RAMAdding RAM•Increase system Increase system performanceperformance•Things to consider:Things to consider:–Type of RAM moduleType of RAM module–Amount of RAM:Amount of RAM:•Maximum limitMaximum limit•Number of slotsNumber of slots•Operating systemOperating system•Applications running at the Applications running at the same timesame time11 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Evaluating StorageEvaluating Storage•Types of storage devices:Types of storage devices:–Hard driveHard drive–Floppy driveFloppy drive–Zip disk driveZip disk drive–CD/DVDCD/DVD–Flash memoryFlash memory•Nonvolatile storageNonvolatile storage12 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc.The Hard Disk DriveThe Hard Disk Drive•Storage capacity up to 400 Storage capacity up to 400 GBGB•Access time is measured in Access time is measured in millisecondsmilliseconds•Data transfer rate is Data transfer rate is measured in megabits or measured in megabits or megabytes per secondmegabytes per second•Spindle speed is measured Spindle speed is measured in revolutions per minute in revolutions per minute (rpm)(rpm)13 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc.How a Hard Disk WorksHow a Hard Disk Works•Composed of several coated Composed of several coated platters stacked platters stacked on a spindleon a spindle•Data saved to the disk: Data saved to the disk: pattern of magnetized spotspattern of magnetized spots– Spots = 1– Spots = 1– Spaces = 0– Spaces = 0•Between platters are Between platters are read/write heads that read read/write heads that read and write magnetized dataand write magnetized data•Spots are translated Spots are translated into datainto dataPlatters Read/write headAccess arms14 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Portable StoragePortable Storage•Gives us the ability to move Gives us the ability to move data from one computer to data from one computer to anotheranother•Types of portable storage Types of portable storage devices:devices:–Floppy disk:Floppy disk:•Capacity 1.44 MBCapacity 1.44 MB–Zip disk:Zip disk:•Capacity 100 MB to 750 MBCapacity 100 MB to 750 MB–CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW:RW:•Capacity 700 MB to 9.4 GBCapacity 700 MB to 9.4 GB–Flash drive:Flash drive:•Capacity 32 MB to 1 GBCapacity 32 MB to 1 GB15 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Magnetic StorageMagnetic Storage•Magnetic media:Magnetic media:–Metal platters:Metal platters:•Hard disksHard disks–Plastic film:Plastic film:•Floppy disksFloppy disks•Zip disksZip disks•TracksTracks•SectorsSectors•File Allocation TableFile Allocation TableTrackSector16 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Optical StorageOptical Storage•Optical media:Optical media:–CD ROMCD ROM–CD-RCD-R–CD-RWCD-RW–DVD ROMDVD ROM–DVD-RDVD-R–DVD-RWDVD-RW•LaserLaser•PitPit•Land Land17 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Upgrading StorageUpgrading Storage•Hard drive options:Hard drive options:–Replace current drive with Replace current drive with a larger capacity drivea larger capacity drive–Install an additional hard Install an additional hard drivedrive•Other