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~ ~ Welcome students, I look forward to working with you this semester, check this site frequently for updates and assignments. ~ JON ~
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~ IST ~ Chapter 6 Evaluating Your System: Understanding and Assessing Hardware
To buy or upgrade? Things to consider: Moores Law Manufacturer Intel, predicts that the number of transistors inside a CPU will increase so fast that CPU capacity will double every 18 months. Cost of upgrading vs. buying Time installing software and files Needs and wants Evaluating your system: CPU Expensive to replace Check Motherboard compatibility Some CPUs are optimized to process multimedia instructions Intel CPUs called Core Duo processors Use less power than dual processors Increase multitasking performance Machine cycle: Speed: MHz GHz RAM Random access memory (RAM): Temporary storage (memory) Volatile Memory modules: SIMM DIMM RIMM Types of RAM: SRAM DRAM SDRAM Storage devices Types of storage devices: Hard drive Storage capacity up to 500 GB Access time is measured in milliseconds Data transfer rate is measured in megabits or megabytes per second Floppy disk: Capacity 1.44 MB Zip disk: Capacity 100 MB to 750 MB CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW: Capacity 700 MB to 9.4 GB Flash drive: Capacity 32 MB to 1 GB Flash memory Card: Up to 4 GB Nonvolatile storage Video output Two components: Video card (adapter) 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 Monitor Types: CRT or LCD Size: 15, 17, 19, or 21 inch Resolution: Increasing resolution allows more to be displayed Sound systems Process digital data into sounds 3D sound cards Surround sound Dolby Digital 5.1 Speakers: Amplified Not amplified Subwoofer Surround sound Computer ports Ports are used to connect peripheral devices to the computer Serial Port Transfers data one bit at a time; 56Kbps Parallel Transfers eight bits of data simultaneously; 12 Mbps FireWire Transfer rate of 400 Mbps; Digital cameras Newer FireWire 800 is fastest Available only on the Apple Mac Ethernet Transfer rate of 100 Mbps; connects computers to networks IrDA Transfer rate of 4 Mbps; Uses infrared light waves Things to consider: Devices you want to use Ports needed for the devices System reliability Performance: Slow Freezes Crashes Upkeep and maintenance: System tools: Disk defragmenter Disk cleanup Unnecessary files Control panel: Add/remove programs Display System Device manager If problems persist: Reinstall the operating system Upgrade the operating system to the latest version
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