katerina29
New Member
hi i have the following assignment. I have started but am stuck here goes:
CPT110: Introduction to Information Technology
Study Period 3, 2008
Assignment 1: Upgrading a PC
Abstract
This assignment involves researching various real-world computer components, and selecting
a set of compatible components that most appropriately fulfil the needs and wants of a
hypothetical computer user.
Say Hello to Jane
Jane has a computer that is about six years old. She does not use the computer for any
serious tasks; most of the time it’s used for internet browsing, and running some specialist
applications related to outdoor pursuits, such as mapping and recording GPS trails.
Over time, she has noticed that the computer isn’t keeping up with modern uses for the
Internet, such as Youtube and Google Earth. She has upgraded her internet connection to
broadband from a quality provider, however the computer is still noticeably slow when
performing a number of tasks.
For the most part, Jane hopes to do much of what she uses the computer for now – just a lot
more quickly. Her digital video camcorder has a Firewire output port, and she wants the new
computer to be able to take video from the camcorder and create DVDs from it.
Last year, a new hard disk was installed; and some time in the near future she plans to buy a
new, larger, flat-panel monitor.
Jane’s Current System
Jane’s current computer system has the following components:
Case AOpen HX-45, Midi-Tower ATX Case
Power Supply AOpen ATX Power Supply, 350 Watts, ATX12V Connector
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-8IGX
CPU Intel Pentium 4, 1.8 GHz
Memory 384 MB (256 + 128MB)
Graphics Card Integrated On-Board Graphics
Hard Disk Seagate 160GB Parallel ATA
Optical Drive Sony CD-Writer/DVD-Reader
Special Requirements
Take special attention to ensure the following facilities are available on the new system:
• A serial port: for connecting the GPS unit
• FireWire (IEEE 1394): for connecting the camcorder
• Ethernet: for connecting the broadband modem
• DVI Port: for connecting a flat-panel monitor in the future
For software compatibility reasons, the upgraded system will continue to run Windows XP.
(Jane already has a retail boxed copy of Windows XP Home from her current PC.)
Your Task
Attached to this document is a parts list from “CPT Computer”, a local computer shop. You
must confine your choices to only those parts on this list. Where there are many possible
optimal options to choose from, select the brand/model that provides the best value.
Your task is to consider those eight core components of Jane’s current system, research its
specifications and capabilities, and recommend whether it can be kept, or if it must be
upgraded. The proposal should be a cost-effective (don’t spend money where it isn’t needed),
series of upgrade decisions that will modernise the system, and provide the additional features
necessary for Jane’s planned uses for the upgraded system.
For each component, you must explain your reasoning and conclusion as to whether or not it
needs an upgrade, and why that is the case. Consider all of the following:
• If the part does require an upgrade:
o Why does it need to be upgraded?
o Which upgrade part do you choose? Why this particular one?
o What benefit will the upgraded part provide?
• If the existing part will suffice:
o Why doesn’t it need an upgrade?
o How will the existing part coexist with other upgraded parts?
o What benefit, if any, could an upgraded part provide?
Important note: these questions do not have a clear-cut answer. In many cases, the
appropriateness of your answer will depend on the line of reasoning you have followed and
presented, and your justification of the decision made.
Once you have completed your decision making, add up the total cost of the upgrade using
the CPT Computer pricing sheet.
Compare these prices with the best you can find for each part on the Internet. Find only prices
from shops (not eBay) within Australia, and disregard any postage and handling costs that
may apply. List the URL and price of the best deal you found, for each component.
• How much can you save (if any) on each component?
• How does the “real world” cost of the upgrade compare to the CPT Computer total?
the following are the comter supplies:
MOTHERBOARDS MEMORY
Intel Socket 775 DDR DIMM Modules
Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L $88 512MB DDR-400 $15
Gigabyte GA-N650SLI-DS4L $123 1024MB DDR-400 $39
Gigabyte GA-G31M-S2L $57
DDR2 DIMM Modules
AMD Socket AM2 512MB DDR2-533 $22
Asus M2N-VM DVI $104 1024MB DDR2-533 $35
Asus M2A-VM HDMI $95 1024MB DDR2-800 $33
Gigabyte GA-MA69GM-S2H $96 2048MB DDR2-800 $63
DDR3 DIMM Modules
PROCESSORS 1024MB DDR3-1333 $57
DDR3-1333 $103
Intel CPUs
Intel Core 2 Duo E2200 $91 DDR2 SODIMM Modules
Intel Core 2 Duo E5200 $106 1024MB DDR2 SODIMM $25
Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 $147 2048MBDDR2 SODIMM $47
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 $238
GRAPHICS CARD
AMD CPUs
AMD Athlon64 x2 5000+ $74 Nvidia Graphics (AGP)
AMD Athlon64 x2 5400+ $93 256MB FX5500 $48
AMD Athlon64 x2 6000+ $114 256MB 7600GT $134
512MB 7600GS $134
CASE ATI Graphics (AGP)
512MB Radeon X1650-Pro $108
Silverstone SG03 Silver $192 512MB Radeon X3650 $112
Silverstone TJ08 Silver $104
Silverstone TJ08 Black $108 Nvidia Graphics (PCI-E)
Antec P182 $274 256MB 8400GS $38
Antec Mini P180 $185 512MB 8500GT $67
Nexus Psile $299 512MB 8800GT $194
Thermaltake Armor Junior Blk $169
Thermaltake Armor Black $249 ATI Graphics (PCI-E)
Thermaltake Armor+ Black $239 512MB Radeon 3450 $41
512MB Radeon 4850 $212
HARD DISK 512MB Radeon 4870 $335
Western Digital 3.5"
PARTS
IDE 250GB $71
IDE 320GB $83 (PCI) RS232 Serial Port Card $18
SATA 160GB $56 (PCI) Firewire/1394 Card $33
SATA 250GB $64 (PCIe-1x) Serial ATA Card $39
SATA 320GB $78
POWER SUPPLIES
Seagate 3.5"
SATA 160GB $57 Generic 500W ATX12V (24pin) $30
SATA 250GB $63 Coolermaster 460W ATX12V (24pin) $55
SATA 320GB $81 Coolermaster 600W ATX12V (24pin) $90
SATA 500GB $109 Topower 600W ATX12V (24pin) 120
Samsung 2.5"
OPTICAL DRIVE
IDE 80GB $43
IDE 120GB $55 IDE DVD-Recorder $32
IDE 160GB $66 SATA DVD-Recorder $32
SATA 120GB $55 SATA Blu-Ray Reader $169
SATA 160GB $66 SATA Blu-Ray Writer $309
Parts Price List
Sep-08
CPT Computer Supplies
"buy from us, or else"
PLEASE HELP IM SO CONFUSED
CPT110: Introduction to Information Technology
Study Period 3, 2008
Assignment 1: Upgrading a PC
Abstract
This assignment involves researching various real-world computer components, and selecting
a set of compatible components that most appropriately fulfil the needs and wants of a
hypothetical computer user.
Say Hello to Jane
Jane has a computer that is about six years old. She does not use the computer for any
serious tasks; most of the time it’s used for internet browsing, and running some specialist
applications related to outdoor pursuits, such as mapping and recording GPS trails.
Over time, she has noticed that the computer isn’t keeping up with modern uses for the
Internet, such as Youtube and Google Earth. She has upgraded her internet connection to
broadband from a quality provider, however the computer is still noticeably slow when
performing a number of tasks.
For the most part, Jane hopes to do much of what she uses the computer for now – just a lot
more quickly. Her digital video camcorder has a Firewire output port, and she wants the new
computer to be able to take video from the camcorder and create DVDs from it.
Last year, a new hard disk was installed; and some time in the near future she plans to buy a
new, larger, flat-panel monitor.
Jane’s Current System
Jane’s current computer system has the following components:
Case AOpen HX-45, Midi-Tower ATX Case
Power Supply AOpen ATX Power Supply, 350 Watts, ATX12V Connector
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-8IGX
CPU Intel Pentium 4, 1.8 GHz
Memory 384 MB (256 + 128MB)
Graphics Card Integrated On-Board Graphics
Hard Disk Seagate 160GB Parallel ATA
Optical Drive Sony CD-Writer/DVD-Reader
Special Requirements
Take special attention to ensure the following facilities are available on the new system:
• A serial port: for connecting the GPS unit
• FireWire (IEEE 1394): for connecting the camcorder
• Ethernet: for connecting the broadband modem
• DVI Port: for connecting a flat-panel monitor in the future
For software compatibility reasons, the upgraded system will continue to run Windows XP.
(Jane already has a retail boxed copy of Windows XP Home from her current PC.)
Your Task
Attached to this document is a parts list from “CPT Computer”, a local computer shop. You
must confine your choices to only those parts on this list. Where there are many possible
optimal options to choose from, select the brand/model that provides the best value.
Your task is to consider those eight core components of Jane’s current system, research its
specifications and capabilities, and recommend whether it can be kept, or if it must be
upgraded. The proposal should be a cost-effective (don’t spend money where it isn’t needed),
series of upgrade decisions that will modernise the system, and provide the additional features
necessary for Jane’s planned uses for the upgraded system.
For each component, you must explain your reasoning and conclusion as to whether or not it
needs an upgrade, and why that is the case. Consider all of the following:
• If the part does require an upgrade:
o Why does it need to be upgraded?
o Which upgrade part do you choose? Why this particular one?
o What benefit will the upgraded part provide?
• If the existing part will suffice:
o Why doesn’t it need an upgrade?
o How will the existing part coexist with other upgraded parts?
o What benefit, if any, could an upgraded part provide?
Important note: these questions do not have a clear-cut answer. In many cases, the
appropriateness of your answer will depend on the line of reasoning you have followed and
presented, and your justification of the decision made.
Once you have completed your decision making, add up the total cost of the upgrade using
the CPT Computer pricing sheet.
Compare these prices with the best you can find for each part on the Internet. Find only prices
from shops (not eBay) within Australia, and disregard any postage and handling costs that
may apply. List the URL and price of the best deal you found, for each component.
• How much can you save (if any) on each component?
• How does the “real world” cost of the upgrade compare to the CPT Computer total?
the following are the comter supplies:
MOTHERBOARDS MEMORY
Intel Socket 775 DDR DIMM Modules
Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L $88 512MB DDR-400 $15
Gigabyte GA-N650SLI-DS4L $123 1024MB DDR-400 $39
Gigabyte GA-G31M-S2L $57
DDR2 DIMM Modules
AMD Socket AM2 512MB DDR2-533 $22
Asus M2N-VM DVI $104 1024MB DDR2-533 $35
Asus M2A-VM HDMI $95 1024MB DDR2-800 $33
Gigabyte GA-MA69GM-S2H $96 2048MB DDR2-800 $63
DDR3 DIMM Modules
PROCESSORS 1024MB DDR3-1333 $57
DDR3-1333 $103
Intel CPUs
Intel Core 2 Duo E2200 $91 DDR2 SODIMM Modules
Intel Core 2 Duo E5200 $106 1024MB DDR2 SODIMM $25
Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 $147 2048MBDDR2 SODIMM $47
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 $238
GRAPHICS CARD
AMD CPUs
AMD Athlon64 x2 5000+ $74 Nvidia Graphics (AGP)
AMD Athlon64 x2 5400+ $93 256MB FX5500 $48
AMD Athlon64 x2 6000+ $114 256MB 7600GT $134
512MB 7600GS $134
CASE ATI Graphics (AGP)
512MB Radeon X1650-Pro $108
Silverstone SG03 Silver $192 512MB Radeon X3650 $112
Silverstone TJ08 Silver $104
Silverstone TJ08 Black $108 Nvidia Graphics (PCI-E)
Antec P182 $274 256MB 8400GS $38
Antec Mini P180 $185 512MB 8500GT $67
Nexus Psile $299 512MB 8800GT $194
Thermaltake Armor Junior Blk $169
Thermaltake Armor Black $249 ATI Graphics (PCI-E)
Thermaltake Armor+ Black $239 512MB Radeon 3450 $41
512MB Radeon 4850 $212
HARD DISK 512MB Radeon 4870 $335
Western Digital 3.5"
PARTS
IDE 250GB $71
IDE 320GB $83 (PCI) RS232 Serial Port Card $18
SATA 160GB $56 (PCI) Firewire/1394 Card $33
SATA 250GB $64 (PCIe-1x) Serial ATA Card $39
SATA 320GB $78
POWER SUPPLIES
Seagate 3.5"
SATA 160GB $57 Generic 500W ATX12V (24pin) $30
SATA 250GB $63 Coolermaster 460W ATX12V (24pin) $55
SATA 320GB $81 Coolermaster 600W ATX12V (24pin) $90
SATA 500GB $109 Topower 600W ATX12V (24pin) 120
Samsung 2.5"
OPTICAL DRIVE
IDE 80GB $43
IDE 120GB $55 IDE DVD-Recorder $32
IDE 160GB $66 SATA DVD-Recorder $32
SATA 120GB $55 SATA Blu-Ray Reader $169
SATA 160GB $66 SATA Blu-Ray Writer $309
Parts Price List
Sep-08
CPT Computer Supplies
"buy from us, or else"
PLEASE HELP IM SO CONFUSED
