Miss_Dior7
New Member
NEED YOUR HELP PLZ
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.
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 tobuy 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.)
Task
Attached to this document is a parts list from “TIMR 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?
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TIMR Computer Supplies
MOTHERBOARDS
Intel Socket 775
Asus P5Q $221
Gigabyte EP31-DS3L $115
MSI P45 Neo3-FR $147
AMD Socket AM2+
Asus M2N68-AM $87
Asus M2N68-VM $102
MSI K9A2GM-F V2 $96
MEMORY
DDR DIMM Modules
512MB DDR-400 $38
1024MB DDR-400 $59
DDR2 DIMM Modules
1024MB DDR2-667 $28
2048MB DDR2-667 $39
1024MB DDR2-800 $23
2048MB DDR2-800 $39
DDR3 DIMM Modules
1024MB DDR3-1333 $45
2048MB DDR3-1333 $74
DDR2 SODIMM Modules
1024MB DDR2 SODIMM $25
2048MB DDR2 SODIMM $47
PROCESSORS
Intel CPUs
Intel Core 2 Duo E7300 $182
Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 $194
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 $280
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 $307
Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 $298
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 $377
AMD CPUs
AMD Phenom x4 9550 $216
AMD Phenom x4 9950 $263
AMD Phenom II X4 920 $328
AMD Phenom II X4 940 $399
GRAPHICS CARD
All graphics cards available from either
Gigabyte or ASUS - same price!
AGP Graphics
256MB nVidia FX5500 $51
512MB ATI X1650 $81
Nvidia Graphics (PCI-Express 16x)
512M 9400GT $83
1GB 9400GT $99
1GB 9500GT $142
1GB 9600GT $166
ATI Graphics (PCI-Express 16x)
512M ATI 4350 $58
512M ATI 4650 $119
512M ATI 4670 $129
1GB ATI 4670 $155
CASE with POWER SUPPLY
Antec NSK 1380 (350W) $199
Antec NSK 3480 (380W) $183
Antec NSK 6580 (430W) $221
Coolermaster Centurion 541 (420W) $141
Coolermaster Elite 330 (350W) $118
Coolermaster Elite 330 (420W) $131
Gigabyte GZ-M2 (320W) $99
Gigabyte GZ-X4 (320W) $103
Thermaltake M9 (430W) $173
HARD DISK
Western Digital 3.5"
SATA 160GB $56
SATA 250GB $63
SATA 320GB $72
SATA 500GB $98
SATA 750GB $131
Seagate 3.5"
SATA 160GB $64
SATA 250GB $72
SATA 320GB $79
SATA 500GB $98
Fujitsu 2.5"
SATA 160GB $74
SATA 250GB $99
SATA 320GB $113
PARTS
(PCI) RS232 Serial Port Card $18
(PCI) Firewire/1394 Card $33
(PCIe-1x) Serial ATA Card $39
OPTICAL DRIVE
IDE DVD-Recorder $32
SATA DVD-Recorder $32
SATA Blu-Ray Reader $144
SATA Blu-Ray Writer $254
HELP MEE PLZZZZZ
