Inside the Box

The Vital Pieces Operating Systems Printers

New Canaan LibraryWinter 2002

What we will look at:

CPU or Computer Chip Main Memory RAM (Temporary Storage) Hard Disk (Permanent Storage) Drives (Portable Storage) Video/Sound Cards Ports Monitors Operating Systems (Software) Printers

CPU

CPU (Central Processing Unit) or Chip is

the heart of the computer.

CPU processes instructions, performs calculations and manages the flow of information throughout the computer system.

CPU

The CPU speed is a major (but not the only) factor in determining how fast a computer operates.

CPU speed is measured in megahertz (MHz), millions of cycles per second or gigahertz (GHz), billions of cycles per second.

CPU

Today there are several different types of CPUs with different speeds to choose from:

Intel Pentium Processor Intel Celeron Processor AMD Athlon Processor AMD Duron Processor

CPU

Intel Pentium Processor

Pentium 4 is the latest generation, with a processing speed up to 2.0 GHz.

Pentium III’s are still common in new computers with speeds ranging from 700 MHz to 1.13 GHz

CPU

Intel Celeron Processor

An inexpensive CPU designed to meet the needs and budgets of most home computer users.

Similar to the Pentium, but have less built-in memory.

Available in speeds up to 900 MHz.

CPU

AMD Athlon Processor

The AMD Athlon is a high-performance processor manufactured by AMD, suitable for businesses and home users who need a powerful processor.

CPU

AMD Duron Processor

The AMD Duron is an inexpensive CPU designed to meet the needs of most computer users with speeds up to 900 MHz.

CPU

Recommended CPU:

Celeron or Duron based computers for the more cost conscious.

Pentium III, 4 or AMD Athlon for the power user.

Memory (Temporary Storage)

RAM (Random Access Memory) or Main Memory

The amount of RAM memory determines the number of programs a computer can run at once and how fast programs will operate.

Memory is measured in megabytes (MB). You should buy a computer with at least 128 MB of memory

Memory

Think of RAM as “work space” You can improve the performance of

your computer by adding more memory.

RAM is temporary memory

Memory

Memory comes in different forms DRAM (Dynamic RAM) is a type of

memory chip that makes up the main memory in many computer systems

SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) is a faster type of memory chip found in most new computer systems. SDRAM transfers at a rate of 133 MHz

Memory

RDRAM (Rambus DRAM) is a new type of memory chip often found in high-performance computers. It can transfer data at up to 600 MHz.

ECC (Error-correcting code memory) Includes a special circuitry for testing the accuracy of data as it passes in/out of memory

Memory

Recommended Memory:

128 MB - 256 MB for all new computers. Look for SDRAM or RDRAM with ECC.

Hard Disk(Permanent Storage)

With Hard disk, both size and speed matters.

Today the amount of information a hard disk can store is measured in Gigabytes (GB)

The speed at which the platter in the hard disk spins is measured in Revolutions Per Minute (RPM)

The speed at which a hard drive finds data is the “Average Access Time” or “ Seek Time.”

Hard Disk

Average Access Time or “Seek Time” is measured in milliseconds (MS). One millisecond equals 1/1000 of a second. Seek time is important to the overall performance of the computer

Most hard drives have an average access time between 8 to 15 ms.

The lower the average access time, the faster the hard drive.

Hard Disk

Types of hard disk interfaces: EIDI SCSI Firewire

(SCSI and Firewire need a separate interface card, are more expensive but faster than EIDI)

Hard Disk

Types of EIDI drives:

Regular EIDI DMA Ultra ATA

Hard Disk

DMA and Ultra ATA hard drives runs faster faster than regular EIDI

SpeedDMA 5400 RPMATA 7200 RPM

Hard Disk

Recommended Hard Disk:

20 - 40 GB Ultra ATA 7-9 ms seek time, 7200 RPM

Video Card

The video card is the interface between the CPU and the monitor.

A video card has its own memory chip which stores information before sending it to the monitor.

Most computers require at least 2 MB of video card memory (VRAM).

Video Card

An Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) video card uses an AGP bus to communicate directly with the computer’s main memory.

This allows quicker display of complex images on the monitor.

AGP is specially designed to meet the high demands of displaying 3D images.

Video Card

Recommended Video Card:2X - 4X AGP, 16-64 MB RAM, 3-D

card with a good brand name.

Some good brand names are:ATI, Creative and Voodoo

Sound Card

The sound card is the interface that allows you to listen to sounds on your PC

The sampling rate of a sound card determines the quality of the sound produced. The higher the sampling rate, the better the sound quality

Look for a sampling rate of at least 44.1 KHz

Sound Card

Full-duplex A full-duplex sound card lets you

talk and listen at the same time. When using a computer to have a

conversation over the Internet, a full-duplex sound card lets people talk at the same time.

Sound Cards

Recommended Sound Card:

Diamond MX 300, 400, 600 or the family of SoundBlaster Live Cards.

Drives (Portable Storage)

Floppy CD-ROM CD-RW DVD DVD-R

Drives

Floppy Drive A floppy drive is a storage device

that magnetically stores data. Floppy drives use 3.5 inch floppy

disks. A floppy disk can hold 1.44 MBs of

information.

Drives

CD-ROM Drive CD-ROM means Compact Disc-Read-

Only-Memory. Read-only means you cannot change

the information stored on the disc A single CD-ROM stores up to 650 MB

of information (that’s over 400 floppy disks)

Drives

CD-ROM Applications

Install Programs Play Multimedia CD-ROM Discs Play Music CDs

Drives

CD-ROM Speed How fast the CD-ROM disc spins

determines its speed The higher the speed, the faster

information can transfer from the disk to the computer.

You should buy at least a 48X (7,200 KB/s) CD-ROM drive.

Drives

CD-RW Drives A CD-RW means Compact Disc-

ReWritable. CD-RWs allow you to write, and re-

write, data on CD-RW discs. CD-R discs allow you to write BUT

NOT re-write data to the disk.

Drives

CD-RW Applications

Store and Transfer Data (Up to 700 MB)

Record Music (Up to 74 minutes) Play Music CDs Play Multimedia CDs

Drives

CD-RW SpeedCD-RW drives operate at several

speeds. Example:Write 12XRewrite 10XRead 32X

Drives

Write speed refers to how fast a CD-RW can record data on a CD-R disc

Re-Write speed refers to how fast it can write to a CD-RW disc

Read refers to how fast data transfers from a disc to the computer

Drives

DVD-ROMStands for Digital Versatile Disc-Read-

Only Memory. You cannot change the information stored on a DVD-ROM.

A DVD-ROM is similar in size and shape to a CD-ROM, but can store much more information (4.7 to 17 GB)

Drives

DVD-ROM Applications

Play DVD Video (w/MPEG2 decoder) Play Music CDs Play Multimedia DVDs or CDs

Drives

DVD-ROM Speed

The speed of a DVD-ROM drive determines how quickly data can transfer from a disc to the computer.

Current drives commonly have a speed of 6X

Drives

Recordable DVD Drives A recordable DVD allows you to

record data on rewritable DVD discs. Recordable DVDs are also known as

DVD-RAM and DVD-R. DVD-Ram can play CD-ROMs, CD-Rs,

CD-RWs music CDs and DVD Video.

Ports

USB and Firewire USB and Firewire ports allow you to

easily connect peripheral devices to your computer

USB and Firewire are very fast ports USB/Firewall automatically detect

and install the device

Ports

USB (Universal Serial Bus) Current version of USB can transfer

information at a speed of up to 12 megabits per second (Mbps).

USB 2.0 will be able to transfer information at a speed of 480 Mbps.

USB is often used to connect scanners, printers, keyboards, etc.

Ports

Firewire (a.k.a. IEEE 1394 or I.link) A firewire port can transfer

information at a speed of up to 400 Mbps.

Firewire is useful for connecting high-speed devices such as digital video cameras and external hard drives.

Modem

Modem A modem lets computer exchange

information over telephone lines 56 Kbps (5,600 bits per second) is the

highest speed dial-up. V.92/V.44 is a new standard promising

higher speed dial-up (300 Mbps), faster connection speed and the ability to take calls without disconnecting from the Internet

Network Adapter

Ethernet Card Is an adapter that allows you to

connect your computer to a network. Needed for Broadband connections

to the Internet (e.g. Cable, DSL)

Monitors

Monitor Size Monitor size is measured diagonally

across the screen. Common sizes are 14, 15, 17, 19, 21 inches.

Large monitors are more expensive and are good for working with graphics, video editing or large spreadsheets.

Monitors

Flat-panel A flat-panel monitor uses Liquid

Crystal Display (LCD). Flat-panels are more expensive but

are lighter, take up less desk space and use less electricity.

Monitors

Dot Pitch The dot pitch is the distance between pixels

on a screen. A pixel is the smallest element on a screen.

Dot pitch determines the sharpness of images and is measured in millimeters (mm)

The smaller the dot pitch, the sharper the image. Select a monitor with a dot pitch of 0.28mm or less.

Monitors

Refresh Rate The refresh rate determines the speed that

a monitor redraws, or updates, images. The higher the rate the less flicker on the screen.

Refresh is measured in hertz (Hz) and tells you the number of times per second the monitor redraws the entire screen.

Choose a monitor with a refresh rate of 72 Hz or more.

Operating System

Windows 98 Windows ME Windows XP (Home Edition)

Windows NT and 2000 are more commonly used for running business applications. They provide advanced networking and security features.

Operating System

Operating System (OS)An operating system is the software

that controls the overall activity of a computer.

Controls Hardware Runs Software Manages Information

Operating System

Platform A platform refers to the type of

operating system used by a computer, such as Windows, Mac OS or UNIX.

Programs designed for use on one platform will not usually work on another platform.

Operating System

Windows 98 Windows 98 is more stable than

Win95 More maintenance tools FAT 32 File system (uses hard drive

space more efficiently) More Internet Programs (Explorer,

Outlook, Frontpage express)

Operating System

Window ME Movie Maker, allows you to record,

edit and save videos on your computer

Enhanced version of Media Player to help manage your multimedia files

Home networking wizard System Restore feature

Operation System

Windows XP New visual design Digital photo features CD Burner Software Video production Instant messaging and video conferencing Recovery tools More secure, stable, reliable and

dependable

Printers

Ink Jet Laser Ink Jet Color Photo Printer

Printers

Speed The speed of a printer determines

how quickly it can print pages Speed is measured in pages per

minute (PPM) A higher speed results in faster

output.

Printers

Resolution The resolution of a printer determines

the quality of the images it can produce. A higher resolution yields sharper, more detailed images.

Resolution is measured in dots per inch (DPI). 600 dpi is good for most text documents. 1200 dpi is good for images.

Printers

Ink-Jet Ink-jets produce high-quality documents

at a low price. Ideal for routine business and personal documents

An ink-jet printer has a print head that sprays ink through small nozzles onto a page.

Speed: 2 - 10 ppm; Resolution: 360 - 2400 dpi

Printers

Laser Laser printer is a high-speed printer

ideal for business, personal documents and professional graphics

A laser printer works like a photocopier to produce high-quality images on a page

Printers

Laser Process:A tiny laser beam scans across a

rotating, electrostatically charged drum to create an image of the printed page. Toner sticks to the scanned image on the drum, which in turn rolls onto the paper, where the toner is fused at about 400 degrees to create a hard copy.

Printers

Laser Speed Most lasers produce images at a speed of

4-16 ppm All lasers have a CPU that processes

instructions and manages information flow within the printe

Laser printers store pages in built-in memory before printing. Typical laser CPU speed is 2 MB to 8MB and can be upgraded

Printers

Memory is important for laser printers that produce images at high resolutions, such as 2400 dpi.

Memory is also important for laser printers that print on larger paper sizes and process complex print jobs.

Printer

Laser Resolution

The resolution or quality of the images produced by a laser printer ranges from 600 to 2400 dpi

Printers

Color Photo Printer A color photo printer is designed to

produce photographic-quality images.

Photo quality printers can accept special types of paper and use a different cartridge from standard ink-jet printers.

Inside the Box

QUESTIONS?

Inside the Box

THANK YOU

Jeff Zaino, Systems LibrarianNew Canaan Library

Fall 2001