Belfast Metropolitan College

Unit 2 Computer
Systems
Assignment 1

Bilal Ali (ALI12067589)

Task 1
P1 - explain the function of computer hardware components
Internal system unit Components
Processors and options
Central Processing Unit is a part of computer system its like the brain of your
computer, it processes instructions from the computer programmes to complex
functions. When something needs to be computed it is sent to the CPU also
known as processor.
The CPU is linked to main memory, peripheral equipment including input/output
devices and storage units. It selects commands from the main memory in proper
order and sends them to the instruction decoding unit which interprets them to
stimulate functions of the system at suitable instants.

Motherboard
The motherboard is used to connect all the computer parts together like the hard
drive, CPU, memory, video card, sound card, optical drives and other ports, They
all connect to the motherboard via cable. The motherboard sometimes is also
referred as the backbone of the computer because it is very important. It is the
main circuit board of your computer and its also known as mainboard, It also
includes controllers for devices like DVD drive, mouse and keyboard. Essentially
motherboard makes the whole thing in your computer work together.

BIOS
The central processing
unit in a PC requires a
way to communicate
with the many different
hardware that are
installed each hardware
device has its own BIOS
software which permits
this communication. The BIOS holds software instructions that allows the CPU to
connect with control devices, Its generally stored in ROM and can be built-in to
the motherboard and on the device itself. The main BIOS in a computer system is
stored inside a microchip on the motherboard and it is the first software that
your computer runs when you turn it on.

 Power supply
Power supply PSU (Power Supply
Unit) is a part that
supplies electrical energy to the
components in the
computer.
Fan and heat sink
Fan inside a computer
case is used for cooling
purposes and to pull
cooler air into the case
from the outside and
take out warm air from
inside or move air across
a heat sink to cool a
specific component.
Heat sink dispels the
heat from the component so it
can prevent
it from overheating.
Hard drive
configuration and
controllers
o SATA,
IDE, EIDE, master,
slave
Hard Drive
also knows as HDD
is nonvolatile which mean
(it can retain
data even if there is a
break in the
power supply) it is
random
access device for the
digital data,
It features spinning
rigid platters
on a motor-driven
spindle within a protective enclosure and data is magnetically read and written
on the platter by read/write heads that float on air above the platters. Hard disk
drives have been reduces in price and physical size over past few years while
their storage capacity has increased radically, Hard drives function on high speed
serial interfaces for example serial ATA SATA or serial attached SCSI.

Ports
o USB, parallel, serial
USB also known as Universal Serial bus is a requirement to establish
connection between devices and a host. USB has successfully replaced a
different interfaces like serial and parallel ports.
USB can connect computer peripherals
and etc. For nearly all of these devices
most common connection method.

like keyboard, mouse

USB has become the

A parallel port is a type of interface that

is found on
computers for connecting different
peripherals In
computing a parallel port is a parallel
communication
physical interface and It is also known as a printer port or Centronics port.
Internal memory

o RAM, ROM, cache

Random access memory also known as RAM is a kind of computer data
storage, it takes the form of incorporated circuits that lets stored data to be
retrieved in any order "Random" refers to that any piece of data can be returned
in a constant time irrespective of its physical place and whether it is connected
to the previous piece of data.

Read only memory also known as ROM is a storage media used in computers
and other electronic devices, data which is stored in ROM cannot be changed, or
it can be changed slowly or with difficulty so it is primarily used to distribute
firmware. Firmware is a software that is very closely tied to specific hardware and
it is unlikely to need regular updates.

A cache is used by the central processing unit CPU of a PC to cut the regular
time to access the memory. The cache is a small and faster memory that stores
prints of the data from the most regularly used main memory sites.
When the processor requests to read or write to a location in main memory it
first checks if a copy of that data is in the cache If it is then the processor
straightaway reads from or writes to the cache which is much faster than reading
from or writing to main memory.

Specialized cards
o network, graphics
Specialized cards are cards that can be added to the computer system.
Network Card:
It is an interface card which is a piece of hardware that is designed so it can
allow computers to communicate with each other over a computer network.
These days most computers are already equipped with network card, It is
basically a circuit board which is installed in a computer so it can connect to a
network.
Graphics Card:

The Graphics card is a hardware installed on your computer which renders

the image on the display screen. It is connected to the motherboard. Graphic
cards are also known as video cards. Video cards include memory, a
processing unit and a cooling system. Graphics Cards are controlled by
computer system through a special program called driver and the driver
would have to be compatible with the hardware and the operating system, a
driver for windows would not work with Linux or Mac OS X. Graphics card
work by connecting to the motherboard and the power source, high
performance graphics cards use a lot of power when they are over performing
they can be over clocked which can cause damage to the graphics card.
Key components of Graphics Cards are:
1. GPU It procedures video, 2d and 3d images
2. VRAM It stores images
3. Video Connections It sends video signals from graphics card to output
device.

Peripherals
output devices
o monitor, printer, camera
An output device is a piece of hardware equipment that used to communicate
the results of data processing carried out by an information processing system
like a computer to the outside world.
Monitor:
Computer monitor is a device which shows graphics and video produced by the
computer through the video card. They come in mainly 2 types CRT and LCD,
CRT stands for a cathode ray tube, in which graphics are produced when
electron ray strikes the a phosphorescent surface.
LCD stands for liquid crystal display they are alternative to CRT monitor
because they take less space and they are much lighter.
Printer:
A printer takes a graphic or a text from your computer and transfers that
information onto paper. There are many different of printers e.g. Laser printer,

Ink-jet printer, Dot matrix. But most commonly printers that are used in homes
and offices are ink-jet printers or laser printers.
A digital camera produces digital images that can be stored on computer and
can be seen on the screen. It stores pictures and videos digitally rather than on
film. It records and takes pictures using its electronic lens.

Output devices
o scanner, plotter

Input devices

Key board, mouse

An input device is a peripheral that is used to provide data and control signals to
an information processing system
A scanner is a device that scans images or an object and converts them into a
digital image onto a computer. It works by reflecting a bright light onto the
surface of the object and then the light is reflected back onto the sensor that
identifies the colour of the light, this is than use to create a digital image.
A plotter is a type of printer which draws pictures based on instructions it gets
from the computer. It is also a lot different than normal printer because instead
of toner it uses a pen to draw stimulated lines onto a paper rather than series of
dots like a normal printer. They can work on large sheets and uphold high
resolution but they are also very large and cost more.
Input devices are hardware device that transfer data to a computer, it allows you
to control and interact with the computer
Mouse is an input device because when you move your mouse it moves the
cursor on your computer.
Keyboard is also an input device, it sends data to the computer when you type in
stuff.
Cabling
o Coaxial, optical, twisted pair

An optical fibre cable is a cable circling 1 or more optical fibres The optical fibre
essentials are normally separately covered with plastic covers and kept in a
shielding tube appropriate for the setting where the cable will be installed
Coaxial cable is used as a transmission line for radio frequency signals in bids
such as connecting radio transmitters and receivers with their antennas and
distributing cable television signals. One advantage of coax over other types of
radio transmission line is that in an ideal coaxial cable the electromagnetic field
carrying the signal exists only in the
space between the inner and
outer conductors, this allows
coaxial cable to be fixed next
to metal objects such as gutters
without the power losses
that occur in other types of
transmission lines, and
provides protection of the signal
from external
electromagnetic interference.
Backing storage
Types
o disks, pen drives, optical media, flash
memory cards
USB flash drive is known under different names, it
is very similar to a
hard drive. USB are often used for same purpose as
DVDs, CDs and Floppy
Disks for storing and transferring data from one computer to another. Theyre
portable, smaller and usually carry more storage capacity than CDs or Floppy
Disks. Their storage capacity use to be very low around 5GB or 10GB but as of
2013 there are USBs with storage capacity up to 2 Terabytes. They are also very
durable because they have no moving part. There are also some downside to
them, because they are so small they are more likely to be lost or stolen. How
long they last depends on how many writes and erases are done on it.

Portable and fixed drives

Performance factors
o data transfer rate, capacity

Portable drive is USB, External hard drive, flash card and fixed drives are internal
hard drive HDD. USB is an external hard drive but it is still referred to being a
fixed disk drive.
Data transfer rate is a speed of travel which a certain amount of data is
transferred from one place to another it is usually measured in bits per sec and

capacity is the amount on the disk or a storage device which tells us how much
of data can be stored on the device or a computer system.

Task 2
P2 - explain the purpose of
Operating system software
Operating system
examples
o LINUX, Windows, Mac
OS

operating systems
There are different types of operating systems:
Windows
The availability of variety of business application
software.
More Resources
Lots of programmes
Better Gaming Experience
Easy to Learn the operating system
Provides a lot of flexibility and customization
Linux
Less vulnerable to computer malware
Does not slow down over time
Thousands of free software
Great for programmers
Mac OS
Fewer Viruses (more secure than windows and mac)
Less Maintenance
Provides UNIX like experience

Command line and GUI

operating systems

Operating system

Command Line Interface CUI lets users interact with

computer by just typing the commands into a prompt.
Commands must be typed in correctly otherwise the
command would not work.
Graphical User Interface GUI lets the users click on an
icon representing the option. And they are much easier
to use.
Operating system is the most important software that

functions and services

o machine and peripheral
management, security,
file management

Device drivers

runs on your computer. It runs after your computer has

been turned on. It performs basic tasks such as
recognizing input from mouse and keyboard and sending
output to the monitor. It also controls all the peripheral
devices. OS keeps track of all your files on the disks, It
makes sure that the programmes that are running at the
same time do not interfere with each other and crash. It
makes sure that unapproved users do not access your
system and they are responsible for the security.
It is a program that controls the device which is
connected to your computer for example keyboard,
mouse, printer, monitor, CD-ROM readers etc. They are
usually built-in to the operating system when you buy it.

Task 3
P3 - explain the purpose of different software utilities
Software utilities
Many users have installed anti-virus software that can
Security
o Virus protection,
detect and remove viruses after computer downloads it,
There are 2 most common ways that anti-virus
Firewalls
programme uses to discover viruses. The 1st and the
most common method of virus detection is by using a
list of virus signature definitions, this works by
inspecting the content of the computer's memory and
the files that are stored on fixed or removable drives like
hard drives, flash drive and then matching those files
against a databank of known virus signatures.
The second method is to use heuristic algorithm to
find viruses that are based on common behaviours. This
method has the capacity to identify new viruses that
anti-virus security companies have yet to create a
signature for. A firewall is software on your computer
that checks information coming from the Internet or a
network and then either blocks it or allows it to pass
through to your computer. A firewall can help avoid
hackers or malicious software from gaining entrance to
your computer through a network or the Internet. A
firewall can also stop your computer from transferring
malicious software to other computers.

clean up tools
o for removal of cookies,
internet history,
defragmentation, drive
formatting

A cookie contains bits of information which may be

encoded for information privacy and data security
purposes. The cookie is sent as an HTTP header by a
web server to the web browser and then sent back
unaffected by the web browser every time it accesses
that server. If you want to delete them you close the
Internet Explorer then you use your file management
software such as Windows Explorer or google chrome
and search for a folder called cookies
As you browse the Internet every items you view they
are saved locally on your hard disk drive. This helps the
web pages the you visit load faster by loading the files
from your hard disk drive instead of having to
downloading the web page again.
Defragmentation is a procedure that reduces the volume
of fragmentation in file systems. It does this by actually
establishing the contents of the disk to store the pieces
of each file close together and alongside, some
defragmenters also try to keep smaller files within a
single directory together as they are often retrieved in

order.

Drive formatting

Disk formatting is a procedure for making a hard disk

drive or other storage device for its use by an operating
system usually with the setting up of an empty file
system,
OSs, disk
formatting
may
sometimes
set up
many file
systems by
separating
the disk into
different
sections
called
partitions for each file system.

P4 - Recommend a computer system for a given

business purpose
Specification Requirements
CPU: Intel Core i5-3330S
Ram: 6 GB or over
Hard Drive: 1 TB or over
Graphics Cards: AMB Radeon HD 6450 1 GB
SuperMulti DVD burner
Software
Operating system: Windows 7 or Windows 10
Antivirus: McAfee Antivirus Plus 2016 or Norton Security
Adobe Dreamweaver

Computer Comparison

HP ENVY 23-d180ea Touch Smart 23

Touchscreen All-in-One PC

LENOVO Idea Centre 510S Desktop

PC

Intel Core i5-3330S processor

Intel Core i5-6400 processor

6 GB of RAM can be upgraded to 16 GB

2TB hard drive

8 GB Ram

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD (DX10.1)

Intel HD Graphics 2000

Windows 10
Full version of anti-virus / internet security not
included

Windows 10

McAfee Antivirus
849.97 for the whole desktop

1 TB HDD

299.95
969.90 If u add the monitor, mouse, keyboard etc

HP ENVY 23-d180ea Touch Smart 23 Touchscreen All-in-One PC

https://www.pcworldbusiness.co.uk/catalogue/item/hp-envy-23-d180ea-touchsmart-23touchscreen-all-in-one-pc/N048913W
LENOVO Idea Centre 510S Desktop PC
http://www.johnlewis.com/lenovo-ideacentre-510s-tower-pc-intel-pentium-8gb-ram-1tbblack/p2911608?
sku=236268326&s_kwcid=2dx92700013328908520&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=CPmOazToNACFQaVGwodbu4PUw&gclsrc=aw.ds

A computer system is one of the essential parts of a business as it is

responsible for the organization of the company especially in the 21st
Century. This is why the most advance systems are essential in a
business. Here is a computer system that will get your business up and
running.
A computer system consists of...
- A Computer/Laptop
- Monitor
- Printer
- Software
- Access to the Internet
- Backing up your Data
With this, these additional features can help with the systems organisation
Newest Window/ OS - Windows 10 gets you around your PC faster than
ever. The taskbar has larger buttons and full-sized previews and you can
also pin programs to it for one-click access. Lists provide shortcuts to files,
folders, and websites.
Smarter search. Type in the Start menu search box, and you'll see
results rapidly, gathered by category documents, pictures and programs .
Search in a folder or library, and you can fine-tune your search with filters
like date or file type and use the preview pane to peek at the contents of
your results.
Easy sharing with Home Group. Sharing files and printers on your
home network should be simple. With Home Group, it finally is. With a
minimum of bother you can start sharing music, pictures, videos, and
documents with other people in your home.

Built for speed. Windows 10 has very important performance

developments to take up less memory and run background services only
when you need them. It is made to run your software faster and to sleep,
resume, and reconnect to wireless networks quicker. And with 64-bit
support, you can take full advantage of the latest in powerful 64-bit PCs.
Better wireless networking. Linking to wireless setups on your laptop
previously a bit of an irritation nevertheless now takes just a couple of
clicks. Choose from the list of available networks in the taskbar, click one,
and then connect. Once you've connected to a network, Windows will
remember it so you can connect again later automatically.
Plays well with devices. Device Stage a feature in Windows 10, works
like a home page for things like portable music players, smartphones, and
printers. When you plug a compatible device into your PC, you'll see a
menu with information and popular tasks like battery life, how many
photos are ready to be downloaded and printing options.
Watch, listen, and stream. in 2016, there are a wide range of
streaming systems such as YouTube, twitter and other social websites
which can help a business promote and/or develop new ideas through
social networkings as new consumer demands require new producer
ideas.
Microsoft Edge - Windows 10 unleashes the full power of its newest
browser, Microsoft edge, from its stunning hardware-accelerated graphics
to the ability to launch favorite websites right from your taskbar. You'll
also get the many possibilities of Windows Live, free: create photo albums
and movies, chat in HD, and share your stuff anytime, anywhere.
Nag-free notifications. Action Center, new in Windows 10, puts you in
control of maintenance and security messages. You can turn notifications
on or off for things like Windows Defender or User Account Control.
If Windows needs your attention, you'll see a notification on the far right
of the taskbar. Click it and you'll get suggested fixes for any problems.

M1 Compare the features and functions of different

operating systems

Comparing Linux and Windows

Windows:
It is the most used operating system, nearly all the PCs around the world
using it, It has a big benefit when it comes to compatible software and
hardware support, Windows can be used on computer, tablets and
phones as well.
Linux:
It is an open source operating system and it is also free to download, it
has a very small market share, people who code or program mostly use it,
it has less hardware and software support than windows because it is not
that well known. It can also be used on computers, phones and tablets.
The price for these two operating systems is an easy comparison because
Linux is free and the latest windows Windows 10 cost 99.99. There are
many free different versions of Linux what come with other free tools. On the other hand
when using Windows software like MS office and other software require payment. But the
windows tools are way better and have more function.
User-Interface Windows is GUI Graphical User Interface operating system which is
enormously user-friendly and is good for beginners. Linux on the other hand is CLI
Command-line Interface which is for moderate and advanced users, and it is not
recommended for novices.
Customisation The main difference between Linux and Windows is that Linux is and open
source system which means that it is freely available so that user can customize whatever
they want, the users have absolute control of the operating system. Windows is very strict in
its customisation/optimisation with very little options e.g. changing the background or the
screen saver.
Security Because of smaller market share Linux doesnt have major security issues, it is
also more secure than the windows and because it is open source anyone can address the
problem. Because of bigger market share of Windows and its popularity most of viruses,
Trojans and malware are aimed to infect Widows OS.

Explain how software utilities can improve the performance of

computer systems

Keeping a computer to be running as effectively and powerfully as you

bought it can be a big challenge if youre new to maintaining a computer.
However, after your first time, it is as easy as a few buttons. Keeping a
computer well maintained whether weekly or monthly is crucial for the
performance of your computer in the long term. Below are the tasks that I
will evaluate that are used for maintaining a computer system.
Disk Clean Up
Disk Defragmentation
Virus Scanning
Back Ups
Start-Up Items
Removal of Cookies and Browsing History
Windows Updates
Physical Computer Maintenance
Disk Clean Up is a program installed in every
windows computer. Its function is to remove all
unnecessary and unwanted files. The files which it
collects when scanning are usually not needed and
are there just sucking up your computers resources
for no good reason. This if not run regularly can make your computer
become slower and slower overtime even if you are hardly running
anything however running this software will keep your computer tidy and
powerful.
Disk Defragmentation similarly to Disk Clean Up is also built in
Windows. Its function is to fix any files which are or could be fragmented
on your computer. This programme tackles the files which have crashed
and or stopped working and tries to fix them. This programme if used
regularly will increase the functionality of your computer as everything will
be running like they are supposed to however a lack of use of this
program will only exacerbate the loss of overall power of your computer.

Virus Scanning is the bible equivalent of your computer.

Viruses are parasites which are hidden in all corners of the
World Wide Web, these viruses inject in your computer
through certain websites and or programs. The viruses can
vary as they can be highly lethal when being controlled by
hackers as they can steal your sensitive data. This is why
its crucial to run Anti-virus softwares as nearly 99% of computers get
viruses in their lifetime. Today there are 100s of FREE Anti-Virus soft
wares which help your tackle viruses whether it be AVG or Malwarebytes.
If a user doesnt scan his/her computer for viruses regularly then they can
face data theft as well as the slowing down of their computer.

Back Ups are crucial in keeping your data secured if

you accidentally delete or lose your data. You can
store backups on a U.S.B, your computer or on a cloud
system. This means you would be able to access your
current system offline as well as online. This can help
give you assurance that your data will be there if anything goes wrong
however if you dont create at least 2 backups then the user is at risk of
one thing going wrong on their computer and having to lose everything
they had on their drive, this might seem common sense however some
people simply still dont create backups.
Start-Up Items are items which automatically start up when you start
your system. These start-up items can be helpful such as automatically
opening up an anti-virus software in the background can help you be
alerted when you face a virus however there are other useless
programmes that the user doesnt need to run on start up. These useless
softwares make your computer slower to start up as they have to take in
account to your softwares rather than just starting normally. This can
significantly make the computer start up time increase.
Removal of Cookies and Browsing History can be a tedious task as
you constantly will be doing it however it is important to keep them in
check. Cookies are a good and bad thing as cookies are stored on a
website to help you utilize the site better e.g. storing your Log In. A
website stores your log in to help make you sign in quicker however it is
vital to clean cookies regularly as you can be at risk of your log in being
hacked or stolen as if someone else uses your computer can easily access
your information. Your Browsing History can be exploited if not cleaned
regularly. Removing cookies and browsing history also help make your
computer work faster as they dont have to carry this extra load.
Windows Updates are essential for the security and functionality of your
computer. Windows Updates are updates that the Operating System sends

to your computer as small patches to help fix small errors

in the system. It is vital to be on top of them as they keep
everything fixed and patched up however if you are
behind Windows Updates then you run the risk of being
hacked as hackers can exploit the errors which the
updates were trying to fix however since yours isnt fixed,
they can send viruses and overall hurt your computer. It is wise to be on
top of updates for the most functional and optimal computer experience.
Physical Computer Maintenance is as crucial as the internal software
maintenance as if the hardware is not working then what the point of
cleaning the computers operating system was. A computer can be
physically maintained through an Air Compressed Can, these cans are
pressurized air that clean up any dust and blockages as well as bacteria in
the system. The cans can be used to remove dust from the computers
fans and vents so that the fans arent covered in dust and thus the
computer wont overheat from bad ventilation. Cleaning your computer
physically once a month is recommended to avoid the building up of dirt
and dust. A user who ignores the exterior of a computer can look forward
to a faster decline in his/her computer systems overall health.

M2 Justify choice of computer system to meet a given

business purpose
This is a Computer System that I have chosen as I feel it is the best 2016
business computer system as it is touchscreen and an ALL IN ONE PC. This
I believe will meet the growing demands of 2016. I will also explain
throughout this report on why I have chosen certain parts of the PC to give
a more thorough knowledge into my decision.
HP ENVY 23-d180ea Touch Smart 23 Touchscreen All-in-One PC
849.97 for the whole desktop
23-inch screen display with Full HD 1080, LED backlighting
WLED screen uses 10-point multi-touch technology which means you can
use all your fingers at the same time to use the multi touch screen.
Function NVIDIA GeForce GT620M (top quality)
1 GB GDGDDR3 graphics
Processor (3.2 GHz, 6 MB cache)
HP Envy has one of the best processer available with 3.2 GHz which
means that you can surf the internet very fast and without having to wait

for any page to load. As a business you need to a have a fast processor
and HP Envy is the right choice for you.
Hard drive: 2 TB
As a business, it needs a lot memory and storage on their computer to
save their work and all the tools and software that are needed to run the
business. This is a good recommendation to purchase HP Envy Touch
Screen All in one PC with a massive amount of memory of 2TB hard drive.
You dont have to worry not having enough memory.
8 GB DDR3
Having a good network is one of the most important features for a
business as they need to surf the internet throughout their process on a
given task. I would recommend to go for HP envy even though the three
have the same ability HP envy has better processor and hard drive.
Wireless: 802.11b/g/n
Ethernet: Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000)
For a business keyboard and mouse isnt just enough. There will be times
that the designer will need some sort of audio to listen to, to upload the
medias for the webpages. As HP envy offers the Beats audio console with
High-performance stereo speakers I would strongly recommend to buy the
HP Envy computer system.
The HP envy system also comes with;

Wireless keyboard

Wireless optical mouse

High performance stereo speakers

Beats Audio Console

These extra peripherals will give the user experience of a high quality
audio which can be useful.
A business system will need multiple USB ports to be used at the same
time. As to run an online business you may want various types of Medias
and some Medias you may not have it in your system, so to get them on
your web you will have to transfer from an USB drive. You will also need
ports for keyboard and mouse but all three computer system are wireless
so in this case the ports will be quite open. As HP envy has sufficient
space for ports with 6 USB ports, 2x USB 3.0 and 4x USB 2.0. This is one of
the main reasons why I have recommended to buy the HP envy for his
own good.
2 x USB 3.0
4 x USB 2.0
Even though the price for this system is 849.97 and may sound like a lot
but it is totally worthy and I would strongly recommend to buy the HP

Envy computer system as it has the best features and functions the best
for a standard high powered business computer system.
Computer system
I have chosen Windows 10 because it is the best choice for a business
team as it is the newest operating system with newer and better facilities.
Even though Windows 7 and Windows 8 both have the similar
specification windows 10 will have a totally advanced usability for the web
development team.
Antivirus
McAfee Antivirus Plus 2016 has a better virus protection with a high speed
scan. Even though McAfee doesnt have parental control feature, it isnt
necessary for the person will have a separate computer system for
him/her and the kids. And also McAfee is 12.84 cheaper than Norton
360.0.