© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc.
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Technology In Action Chapter 6
Technology In ActionTechnology In ActionTechnology In ActionTechnology In Action
Chapter 6Chapter 6
Evaluating Your System: Understanding and Evaluating Your System: Understanding and Assessing HardwareAssessing Hardware
Chapter 6Chapter 6
Evaluating Your System: Understanding and Evaluating Your System: Understanding and Assessing HardwareAssessing Hardware
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Technology In Action Chapter 6
Topics Topics 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 reliability
• 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 reliability
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Technology In Action Chapter 6
To Buy or To Upgrade?To Buy or To Upgrade?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 wants
• 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 wants
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Technology In Action Chapter 6
Assessing Your Hardware: Assessing Your Hardware: Evaluating Your SystemEvaluating Your System
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– PortsPorts
• 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– PortsPorts
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Technology In Action Chapter 6
Evaluating the CPUEvaluating the CPUEvaluating 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:
FetchFetchDecodeDecodeExecuteExecuteStore Store
– Speed:Speed:MhzMhzGhzGhz
• 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:
FetchFetchDecodeDecodeExecuteExecuteStore Store
– Speed:Speed:MhzMhzGhzGhz
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Technology In Action Chapter 6
Upgrading the CPUUpgrading the CPUUpgrading the CPUUpgrading the CPU
• Expensive Expensive • Easy to installEasy to install• Motherboard compatibilityMotherboard compatibility
• Expensive Expensive • Easy to installEasy to install• Motherboard compatibilityMotherboard compatibility
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Technology In Action Chapter 6
Evaluating RAMEvaluating RAMEvaluating RAMEvaluating RAM
• Random access memory (RAM):Random access memory (RAM):– Temporary storage (memory)Temporary storage (memory)– VolatileVolatile
• Memory modules:Memory modules:– SIMM (Single inline)SIMM (Single inline)– DIMM (dual inline)DIMM (dual inline)– RIMM (Rambus inline)RIMM (Rambus inline)
• Types of RAM:Types of RAM:– SRAM (static)SRAM (static)– DRAM (dynamic)DRAM (dynamic)– SDRAM (synchronous)SDRAM (synchronous)
• Random access memory (RAM):Random access memory (RAM):– Temporary storage (memory)Temporary storage (memory)– VolatileVolatile
• Memory modules:Memory modules:– SIMM (Single inline)SIMM (Single inline)– DIMM (dual inline)DIMM (dual inline)– RIMM (Rambus inline)RIMM (Rambus inline)
• Types of RAM:Types of RAM:– SRAM (static)SRAM (static)– DRAM (dynamic)DRAM (dynamic)– SDRAM (synchronous)SDRAM (synchronous)
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Technology In Action Chapter 6
Adding RAMAdding RAMAdding 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 limitNumber of slotsNumber of slotsOperating systemOperating systemApplications running at the Applications running at the
same timesame time
• 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 limitNumber of slotsNumber of slotsOperating systemOperating systemApplications running at the Applications running at the
same timesame time
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