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Exercise 2
Question 2. Computer
Purchase
Let
us
assume
that
you
are
purchasing
a
new
computer
for
a
specific
usage.
You need to choose a computer from
various available configurations.
Listed
below
are
four
different
usage
cases
of
a
computer
(a-d).
For
each
usage
case, identify components of the computer
configuration that are
most important
to consider. Explain your answers.
Components to be considered include
(but are not limited to):
?
?
?
?
?
Monitor size/resolution
Graphics card/video card
Storage devices (for example, DVD-ROM)
Memory (RAM, cache, and hard disk)
Disk controller interfaces (ATA, EIDE)
For
example,
if
a
computer
were
to
be
used
for
viewing
movies,
a
DVD-ROM
drive is needed since movies are
available as CDs and now increasingly
as
DVDs.
A
l
arge
monitor
(about
19”)
that
supports
high
resolutions
and
a
video card will also be necessary to enjoy the
movie.
a. Simultaneously running a
number of programs
Large capacity
memory (at least 1G ) is needed to stores data and
instructions needed to execute
programs
when a number of programs run. In order to resolve
this question, we should select the
appropriate processor.
T
he Intel? Core? Duo
processor
with its two execution cores
is optimized for
multi-threaded
applications and multitasking. You can
simultaneously run multiple demanding
applications,
such as 3-D games or
serious scientific research programs, while
downloading files or running
virus-
scanning security programs in the background.
b. Running a speed-critical
application
Considering system running
speed: AMD processor is typically with less cost,
sometimes even faster
than Intel's
products.
So the AMD
Opteron? processor
is
needed. The AMD Opteron processors with Direct
Connect
Architecture and
HyperTransport? Technology deliver
leading
-edge 32-bit performance today
and enable
you to transition to 64-bit
computing at your own pace, without sacrificing
your x86 technology investment.
A
mother board with high speed front side bus is
needed
c.
Storing and retrieving huge volumes of data
A large storage hard disk is needed (at
least 800G) to store huge volumes of data, at the
same time, we
should foresee the demand
of it.
A DVD-RW is needed when you want
to store your huge volumes of data in DVD-ROM.
A motherboard with EIDE interface can
accommodate a total of four devices, maybe you
will get up to
2 hard disk or more.
d. Purchasing a basic
configuration, to be upgraded later as needed
For upgrading your system, you must set
your system has ability of upgrade and extended.
So one good
motherboard is needed.
The Intel? Desktop Board D975XBX is
designed to deliver the best experience for
advance
d gamers
and power-
users. Based on the Intel? 975X Express Chipset
and Intel? Pentium? processor Extreme
Edition, this board has the best
performance and the ability of upgraded. The
Intel? Desktop Board
D975XBX supports
Intel? Viiv? technology
, and comes with
the software required to help meet Intel?
Viiv? technology brand verification
requirements.
Question 3.
Laptop Computer Selection
You are a new
graduate student enrolling in a Masters in
Information
Technology program. The
department requires you to have a computer with
the following requirements:
?
?
?
?
?
?
512 MB of RAM
20 GB hard
drive
CD-ROM drive
Wireless connection
Ethernet network card
Windows XP Professional version
Your school has wireless connection,
and Ethernet jacks. However, some
classes
are
three
hours
long,
and
your
AC
adapter
may
not
be
long
enough
to
reach
an
outlet.
You
also
would
be
carrying
this
computer
around
from
class to class.
The most you can spend is
US$$1200
.
Indicate
the
range
of
values
you
desire
for
each
of
the
following
criteria:
a. Weight
b. Screen size
c. Number of USB ports
d.
Number of Firewire ports
e. Need CD-
RW?
f. Need DVD-ROM?
g.
Need DVD-RW?
h. Manufacturer
preferences?
i. Search the Internet
for
two suitable computers
meeting the above
requirements and your
budget constraint. Submit screenshots of the Web
pages detailing the computer
configuration and price.
j. Record
your search results in a
MS Excel
spreadsheet
. Fill column A
with the following category labels:
1. Manufacturer
2. Processor
3. Memory (maximum upgrade capacity)
4. Screen size
5. Weight
6. Graphics card
7. USB
8. Firewire
9. CD-ROM
10. DVD-ROM
11.
Communications (e.g. wireless, Ethernet)
12. Battery life
13. Price
14. Available Rebate
Save
and submit your Excel file.
k. Make
your final purchase decision and justify your
decision.
Unit 1 and Unit
2 Review Materials
2. Binary
a.
Define
bit
.
b.
Define
byte
.
c.
Fill in the
following chart, listing the prefixes used for
the amount of bytes shown:
Amount
Prefix
2
20
2
2
40
30
Mega
Giga
Tera
d.
Fill in the
following chart, converting binary numbers to
decimal and decimal numbers to binary:
(
Note:
The
numbers
that
appear
in
the
table
below
will
differ
on
an
exam
from
the
numbers
that
appear
on
the
exam's
review
sheet.)
Binary
Decimal
1010
10
e.
Although in
sales literature 1000 bytes and 1024 bytes are
both
commonly
referred
to
as
a
kilobyte,
in
computing
the
only
correct
number
of
bytes
in
a
kilobyte
is1024.
Explain
why
1024
is
correct.
Many quantities in
binary computers are restricted to powers of 2,
and 210 is 1024, which is so close to
1000 that kilo is used informally.
f.
How
can
the
difference
in
measuring
bytes
presented
in
part
e
impact
a
consumer
when
they
are
purchasing
a
hard
disk
drive?
A
hard disk drive is
typically measured traditionally, in powers of 10.
Therefore
a
gigabyte in a hard disk is
10
9
, not the larger
2
30
.
Not knowing this, a
consumer
might be surprised that the disk capacity was less
than he thought was
advertised.
0001 0111
23
0100 1110
78
1011
1101
189
1 1011
27
1111 1100
252
11 0011
51
1010 0101
165