D2-Justify the considerations for selection in the upgrade of an exsiting computer system.

To answer this question i am going to use one of the computers i picked in the previous task. I have chosen to use the computer i chose for my previous task.

One thing you could upgrade on this compputer is to upgrade the CPU. You could get a quad processor CPU. This would benefit the user of the computer as you will be able to run more applications and programmes; the applications and programmes you run, will run a lot more quicker than before. Also, you will be able to run programmes like inkscape and adobe illustrator and it would not crash more than before you upgraded the CPU.

Another thing you could do to upgrade the computer is to upgrade the graphics card. If you upgrade the graphics card, you would get one that had more video memory and a faster GPU. When looking for a graphics card, you need to look for certain things. Looking to check it is suitable with your motherboard; so looking to check whether it is a PCIexpress or a PCI graphics card. Then looking at the video memory of it. A graphics card has special memory that is dedicated to the graphics that is done on the computer. Then finally you need to look at the GPU. If the GPU has more cores on; which usually have hundreds, unlike a CPU which usually has 2, 4 or 8; but are a lot bigger. If the GPU has more cores on, then it will run quicker and the speed of the game, drawing application etc will run a lot quicker and would be less likely to crash or have errors.
Another thing you can upgrade is the RAM of the computer. The more RAM the computer has, the more applications you can run at the same time. When you run applications on your computer, it has to take it from the hard drive and place it in to the RAM. So if you don't have a lot of RAM, the processor may have to re-write them back onto the hardrive for a short while, which take time; as it takes longer to write applications to the hardrive from the RAM rather than from the hardrive to the RAM. Upgrading the RAM is connected to upgrading the CPU. If you have a good CPU with more cores then it will run better and the more RAM you have, the more applications you can run and the CPU can process them quicker and easier than if you have less cores or a smaller RAM.
One other thing you could upgrade is the hard disk. When upgrading the hard disk, you want to upgrade to one that has more memory to store more applications and files; and also one that is faster. An average hard disk runs at 7000RPM (revolutions per minute), so you could upgrade and get a hard disk that runs at 10,000RPM. When you upgrade your hard disk, looking for one with more memory is essential. This is because you can then store more files and applications on your computer and even programmes. This would benefit the user as they could use more programmes or even different ones. Having more memory space free on the hardisk will keep the computer running at a good speed. This is because when the hard disk starts getting fuller then the computer will start slowing down whilst running etc. So upgrading the hard disk so that it had more memory would mean that the computer would not run slower.

The chosen one

Out of the four computers/laptops that I chose for my specifications, I chose Acer Aspire X1301 PC with 19" monitor. I chose this one because it has the features and functions that are required in the brief. In the brief, it stated that the pupils and sftaff would need to use DVDs and CDs in their work. This laptop has a DVD re-writer, a NVIDIA GeForce 7100 integrated garphics card. These will allow them to watch and use the DVDs and CDs in their work. The computer also contains the new Windows 7 Home Premium operating system. This would benefit the staff and pupils as it will offer new and up-to-date features. It will also be compatible with all the newer programmes and applications that are newer out. This would benefit the school (pupils and staff) a lot as they can use the newer programmes and applications with their work. The staff could also get the pupils more aware of the newer programmes and applications, so therefore they are more aware of how to use them. The operating system mode is 64-bit. This is beneficial to the staff and pupils as the 64-bit mode. This is beneficial to the staff and the pupils as it means that it clocks 64bits at a time. It also means that the buses inside the buffers are 64bits wide. The processor is AMD Athlon model II X3 and its clock speed is 2.7GHz (gigahurtz). This means that this processor clocks 2.7billion process/instructions every second. And with the 64-bit mode, it means that a lot of data can come through very quickly each time. The RAM of this computer is DDR2 and its clock speed is 800MHz(megahurtz). This means it clocks 800million process/data every second. The RAM has 3GB of memory. This is 3 billion bytes. This is the largest you can get, however it is large enough for what the staff and pupils would need to use it for. The computer has to slots for the RAM memory, so the computer could therefore hold 6GB of RAM memory. The hard drive on this computer has 320GB of memory. This is the largest either, however it is big enough for what it will be used for. The hard drive can hold up to 320 billion bytes of data on it. The hard drive interface is SATA. This means that it is seriel. The advantages of having SATA is that it is less likely to make errors on your computer/laptop compared to PATA (parallel). However one disadvantage of having SATA is that it is slower than PATA. The graphics card on this computer is NVIDIA GeForce 7100. It has 2 ports for a graphics card, 1 for VGA and anouther for HDMI. The computer also has 9 usb ports, which are useful to the staff and pupils as they can use their usb memory stick and other cables that they might need, such as scanners etc. The screen of the monitor is 19" wide and has a contrast ratio of 10,000:1. This is a good contrast ratio and would be helpful to those who are visually impaired. The resolution of the monitor is 1366X768. This is related to the pixels. The resolution is 1366X768. This is good for a computer, however you can better resolution monitors. However, the school will not need a laptop/computer that has a high resolution, it is not needed, however it would be beneficial. Other features that make this computer a good one is that it is simple and secure. It makes data recovery effortless using the Acer eRecovery Management. This can make full backups and reinstall drivers and applications through an interface. It also comes with 'MyWinLocker'. This is a digital safe which helps protect important files on a secure virtual disk. This computer is also a good choice for the design breif as it is sleek and sophisticated. The whole look of the computer is modern and simple. It is streamlines and stylish and is just one third of the size of all traditional computers. This is beneficial as it will not take up loads of room in the school and could therefore get more equipment/computers/laptops. The Acer Aspire x1301 also comes with a bundle of other features including multi-in-1 card reader and room for expansion, which will benefit them when wanting to use CDs and DVDs etc. The whole price of this computer is only

Sony SR39VN/S Laptop

The features of this laptop:

• Intel processor type: intel core 2 duo processor P8600 (2 processors)
• 2.4GHz mhz processor speed
• 4096mb memory size
• DDR2 SD RAM memory type (Double Data Rate- works at 4times the rate)
• 4GB memory
• 400GB hard drive capacity
• 400GB hard drive
• DVD-+RW/+-R DL/RAM optical drives
• 24x C-RW speed

I have chosen to have two of this laptop. I have chosen this laptop as it has all the features that are required by the brief. It has enough memory for them to store the things that they need to store and save. I can also run word processing, spreadsheet, database software. I think this laptop is ok for pupils and staff at a school as they would only need the laptop for school use and would not need to have a large graphics memory etc as they would not be playing games etc.

Packard Bell iXtreme X5620uk with 20" Packard bell monitor

The features of this PC:

• Operating system: Genuine Windows(R) 7 home premium
• Operating system mode: 64-bit (processes 64bits a time)
• Processor brand: intel
• Processor model: Core 2 quad (2 processors)
• Processor clock speed: 2.5GHz (clocks 2.5billion process a second)
• Processor cache: 4MB
• Hard drive: 640GB
• RAM memory size: 4GB
• RAM memory type: DDR2 (Double Data Rate-so DDR2 works at 4times the rate)
• RAM clock speed: 800MHz
• Hard drive capacity: 640GB
• Hard drive interface: SATA (seriel)

I chose to have three of these computers. I chose this computer because i has all the features/functions that are needed for the school to do all thethings that are needed. The computers hard drive is big enough for the staff and pupils to do the things they need to do on there. The fact that the hard drive interface is SATa may be classed as a disadvantage as it will run slower on the computer, however it is less likely to have errors etc, which will be better for pupils.

Sony Vaio VPCCW1Z4E/B 14" Widescreen laptop

The features of this laptop:

• Operating system: Genuine Windows(R) 7 home premuim (latest operating system)
• Processor type: Intel core 2 duo processor P7450 (2 processors)
• Memory type: DDR2 SDRAM (2x2GB)
• Optical drives: Blu-ray Read and DVD Multi R/W
• Screen size/type: 14" x-black LED backlit LCD
• Graphics card type: Nvidia GeForce GT230M
• Graphics memory: 512MB (512million bytes)
• Sound type: 3D surround
• Wireless enabled: Yes (connects to the internet without a router)
• No. of USB connections: 3 (has 3 usb ports)
• Other interfaces: HDMI, VGA, Bluetooth
• Software titles included: Mcafee + office H&S trials

I chose to only buy one of this laptop. I have chosen this laptop because it has all the features/functions that are required to fit the breif of what they need it to do. You can get the internet for this laptop so that you can access the internet and maintain a web page. It also offers 512MB graphics memory so that they can use multimedia and graphics software. It also offers 3D surround, so that if they need to watch DVDs etc, this will make them sound better. With the money left over from this laptop, the school could also get a scanner, which has a USB cable and scan the work that they need to.

Acer Aspire X1301 PC with 19" Acer monitor

The features of this computer:

• Operating system: Genuine Windows (R) 7 home premium
• Operating system mode: 64-bit (clocks 64bits each time)
• Processor brand: AMD
• Processor model:Athlon II X3
• Processor clock speed: 2.7GHz (processes 2.7billion instructions a second)
• RAM memory size: 3GB (3 billion bytes)
• RAM memory type: DDR2
• RAM memory clock speed: 800MHz (clocks 800 million processes a second)
• Installed RAM modules: 2 (2 slots for RAM memory)
• Max expandable memory: 4GB
• Hard drive capacity: 320GB
• Hard drive interface: SATA (seriel-slower, but less prone to make errors)
• Optical drive type: DVD rewriter
• Graphics card brand: NVIDIA
• Graphics card model: GeForce 7100
• Graphics card memory and type: Integrated
• Graphics card outputs: 1x VGA and 1x HDMI
• No of audion channels: 5.1
• Media card reader: Yes
• No of USB ports: 9 (9 slots for usb cables)
• Max monitor resolution: 1366X768
• Contrast ratio:10,000:1
• Response rate: 5ms
• Video inputs: VGA

I have chosen to buy only one of this computer. I have chosen this computer because it has a lot to offer that is ideal for staff and pupils of a school. It has the features that is required by the school. It can run the usual word processing, spreadsheet and database software; it can also run graphics and multimedia software and has a dvd rewriter so that you can use the CDs and DVDs aswell. You can also get the internet for this computer so that you can access email (private and school) and maintain a web page aswell. With the money left over from the computer, the school can also buy a scanner so that they can scan the work that they do, they can also buy other accesories that they may need including internet security and affording to access the internet. I also chose this computer as it is ideal for staff and pupils at a school as it hasn't got a lot of the 'high-tech' features that they would probably would not use anyway.

Question D1

D1- Evaluate at least three specifications for commercially avaliable computer systems and justify the one most suitable for use in a given situation.
I have chosen 1 computer: Acer Aspire X1301 Desktop 'Saving Space-pc' With 19" Acer monitor, 1 laptop: Sony viao VPCCW1Z4E/B 14" Widescreen laptop, 3 computers (all same computer): Packard Bell iXtreme X5620uk desktop PC with 20" packard bell monitor and finally 2 laptops (same laptop): Sony SR39VN/S laptop.
The ones i have chosen are all on seperate blogs, where i have explained the features of each, why i have chosen them and what is compatible with it.

How to install a scanner and The difference between a peripheral and a component

To install a scanner you can do it two different ways. The first way you can use the scanner is by 'plug and play'. You simply plug in the USB cable into your computer and use the scanner, This way is ok, however you don't get to benefit all the features that come with the scanner. The other way is by installing the scanner onto your programme. For this you need to insert the disk into your computer and it should automatically come up on your screen. The you should install the disk onto your computer. If the scanner requires other disks to be installed onto your computer, then your computer should prompt you for this at this time. Once you have installed the disk(s) onto your computer, then you should plug your USB cable into your computer and the scanner and then you can use the scanner with all the benefits that come with it. With configuring a scanner, this is usually not needed. So i will say how to configure a printer instead. To configure a printer, you are changing the default settings to suit want you want the printer to do. S0 you could change it to print from black and white everytime to colour everytime.

The difference between a peripheral and a component is that one is needed and the other is an accessory/not needed.
A component is part of the computer and is usually needed. For example, the cpu is a component of the computer and is needed in order for the computer to work correctly. However a peripheral is an accessory and is not necessarily required. For example a scanner is not needed for the computer to work however it could be included to make the computer have more features and functions.

Firewalls

The firewall is the part of the computer system or network which is designed to block any unauthorized access whilst permitting authorized communications. The firewall is a device which is configured to deny, permit, proxy, encrypt, decrpyt all computer traffic (in or out of the computer) which is between any different security domains. The firewall can be impletemented in either hardware or software or even both. The firewall is most commonly used to prevent unauthorized users accessing private networks which are connected to the internet. Every message that is passed into and out of the computer are passed through the computer and are examined thoroughly to check that they meet the specified security criteria. There are many different types of firewall techniques including: Packet filter and a Proxy server. A Packet filter inspects each packet passing through the network and can either accept or reject it based on user defined rules. It is effective and most transparent to its users. However it is harder to configure. The proxy server intercepts all messages entering and leaving the network. The proxy server effectively hides the network addresses.

SFC command

SFC command is shorthand for system file ckecker command. This can be used to verify and replace important Windows system files. The system file checker command is useful to use when you suspect that there are issues with protected Windows files, such as, DLL files. DLL files is shorthand for Dynamic Link Library. This is a type of file which contains instructions that other programs can get to do certain things.

CHKDSK

Chkdsk is shorthand for CheckDisk. Chkdsk is a command for computers which run DOS, OS/2 and Microsoft Windows and displays the file system integrity status of the hard disks and floppy disks. It can also fix any logical file system errors.