Week 05 Journal Chapter 12 from A Textbook: Computer Design and Troubleshooting Review - Hsanokklis/2022-2023-Tech-journal GitHub Wiki

Chapter 12: Computer Design and Troubleshooting Review

_Summary: This chapter focuses on teaching how computer systems fit together. It also goes over parts of a computer that may differ based on what the client needs their computer to do._

Design Overview: Why is it important to know how to design a computer? Knowing how to design a computer means that you know what each computer component does, and how they all work together. Employers look for people who can design, so it's an important skill to have in the workforce.

Computer System Design: _ Summary: Every computer user needs different specifications and components in their components based on the functions that the computer needs to perform._

CAD/CAM and Graphics Design Workstations:

  • CAD - Computer Aided Design
  • CAM - Computer Aided Manufacturing
  • Systems used by engineers/design engineers to create things
  • CAD/CAM Design Workstation components:
  • Powerful multi-core processors
  • Maximum System RAM
  • High end video cards(with max video RAM and GPU)
  • Large display/dual display
  • Large capacity hard drives and an SSD
  • Peripherals: digital tablets, scanners, plotters, 3D printers
  • Quality Mouse/input device

Gaming PCs:

  • Many Gamers design their own computers based on their gaming needs, but some manufactures do design gaming PCs.
  • Gaming PCs components:
  • Powerful Multi-core processors
  • High end video cards(max video RAM and specialized GPU)
  • High end definition sound card and speakers
  • High end system cooling
  • Large amount of RAM
  • Large display/dual display
  • Quality mouse
  • Possible gaming console
  • Headphones with microphone
  • Possible 3D glasses

Audio/Video Editing Workstations:

  • These computers are used to manipulate sounds or video.
  • Audio/Video Editing Workstations components:
  • Specialized video card with maximum video RAM and GPU
  • Specialized audio card and speakers
  • Very fast and large capacity hard drive
  • Dual Monitors
  • Powerful multi-core processors
  • Large amount of system RAM
  • Quality mouse
  • Possible digital tablet or scanner

Virtualization Workstations:

  • The computers can be a workstation that has one OS in its own VM that is separate from the host system OR a workstation that uses hardware and software virtualization techniques to let a user have a controlled workstation environment.
  • Virtualization Workstation Components:
  • Maximum CPU cores
  • Maximum RAM
  • Multiple, fast, large capacity hard drives
  • Possible SSDs
  • Possible Network Attached Storage(for increased storage space that can be shared with other devices)

Thin Client Workstations:

  • A Computer(workstation, desktop, laptop) that has a mouse, display, keyboard, and network connectivity, and runs its applications from a server. These workstations are cheaper than normal workstations, but it costs money to keep up the servers. Their storage is cloud based. Their hardware and software could be virtualized to create a controlled environment. Oftentimes corporations use these workstations.
  • Thin Client Workstation Components:
  • Meets minimum requirements for selected OS
  • 1Gb/s preferred network connectivity
  • Basic Applications
  • Optional display privacy screen

Thick Client Workstations:

  • These computers are the most commonly used computers in the work environment. Applications and documents are stored in the local hard drive. Smaller businesses tend to use these workstations.
  • Thick Client components:
  • Meets recommended hardware requirements for the selected OS
  • Meets recommended hardware and software requirements for running desktop applications
  • Optional display privacy screen
  • Optional dual displays

Home Theater PCs(HTPC):

  • A computer near/part of a home theater. These computers have output suited better for a TV than a computer display. They sometimes have a remote control to control the components.
  • Home theater PC components:
  • Compact form factor case and motherboard with quiet case and power supply fans
  • Surround sound audio ports
  • HDMI video output
  • TV tuner card or cable card to receive pay channels
  • audio/video hard drive(AV hard drive) that is quiet
  • Media player to stream entertainment
  • Possible wireless connectivity
  • Digital video recorder to record shows/transfer data/store media
  • Large display with multiple HDMI,USB, Component composite, ports
  • Possible Linus based OS
  • Possible gaming device

Home Server:

  • This computer is used to store data, function as a web server, print server, or file server, control media streaming, be accessible from outside the home, control devices, and manage backups of other computers.
  • Home Server Components:
  • Multiple hard drives in a RAID array configuration
  • 1Gb/s NIC
  • Medium to large case
  • Multiple processors or multiple cores in the processor
  • Lots of RAM
  • Server applications inducing media streaming, file sharing, and print sharing
  • Possible NAS
  • Possible KVM switch

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Home server design

Industrial Computers:

  • A computer that is used for a specific industry. These computers might need specialized components based on the industry they are used in. For Example, in a car repair shop, the keyboard may have coverings to avoid excess dust from getting into the keys. Another example might be a kiosk in a mall that might provide directions, provide a map, etc.
  • Industrial Computer Components:
  • Meets recommended hardware requirements based on applications installed
  • Optional enclosure for wet, dry, or outdoor environments
  • Optional enclosure for a laptop’s external keyboard and mouse for unsecure or outdoor environments
  • Optional LCD enclosure for harsh, outdoor, public, high-traffic or industrial environments
  • Optional privacy display screen
  • Case with air filters that may be removable for clearing

Mobile Computers:

  • Computers that people take with them while they travel. They may need special on-the-road components.
  • Mobile Computer Components:
  • Laptop, ultrabook, or tablet
  • Sufficient RAM
  • Might need mobile broadband connectivity
  • Possible SSD
  • Compatible Smartphone
  • Possible thermal printer for sale-oriented tasks
  • Possible portable speakers and headphones with noise cancellation

Additionally:

  • It is important to keep in mind what the user will be doing with the computer when designing it
  • Some companies might require a computer with green specifications, and there are ways to design a computer with energy conservation in mind.
  • Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool(EPEAT), identifies products that have a green design.
  • Energy Star rated products have low total energy requirements, low power modes, and efficient power supplies.

Motherboard and Associated Component Design: Summary: The Motherboard, chipset, and CPU are all directly related to one another, and should all be designed together when designing a computer.

Choosing a Processor:

  • A choice between AMD and Intel
  • How many processor cores you want
  • Selecting a specific model
  • Both companies have prossors for low end and high end computers. You will need to choose a processor based on what tasks you will need your computer to carry out. You will also need to look at CPU cooling especially if you are buying a high end CPU.

Processor Nanotechnology:

  • Processor technology length is measured in nanometers which is 0.000000001 in length.
  • Processors and chipsets with 14nm or 22nm technology can have more transistors in the same amount of space as the procssors/chipsets created using the 32nm or 45nm technology.
  • The smaller the technology, the less heat produced
  • Lower heat, components may be able to run faster(not always the case)

Memory: Model of motherboard/chipset will decide what memory is supported Compatibility with existing components is a must Take advantage of dual,triple, and quad channeling
Ensure DIMMs and SO-DIMMS are purchased together and installed according to the recommendations in the motherboard manual Buy as much RAM and you can afford

Motherboard Components:

  • Motherboard form factor
  • Chipset
  • Weather CPU is included or needs to be purchased separately
  • CPU size
  • Motherboard socket size
  • Nanotechnology used with the processor and/or chipset
  • CPU cooling
  • RAM
  • Number and type of I/O ports
  • Traditional BIOS or UEFI

Storage Subsystem Design:

  • The design for the storage systems used in a computer
  • System consists of magnetic or flash technologies for internal/external hard drives, flash storage(SSDs) or optical drives.
  • Look at what user needs for storage:
  • How long they plan on storing data
  • How long they will use the system before upgrading

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Storage System Considerations

Troubleshooting Overview: Summary: Troubleshooting consists of figuring out what is wrong with a computer in a quick, efficient manner. Especially in a professional setting, troubleshooting is an important skill to have, because when a computer is down, the company loses money.

Tips! * **Back up data! **

  • *This can prevent data from being lost if the system fails ** _ Use all available resources when troubleshooting_
  • **Documentations for components **
  • **The internet **
  • *Your 5 senses ** _ Before you make changes…_
  • **Consider the impact the change will have, make sure it aligns with company policy and is helpful. **

Troubleshooting steps!

  1. Identify the problem
  2. Establish a theory of probable cause
  3. Test the theory to determine the cause
  4. Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem
  5. Verify full system functionality and implement preventative measures
  6. Document findings, actions, and outcomes

Guiding Questions:

**Based on the chapter, what are the three most important components to think about if you were building a computer for yourself? How about if you were building a computer for another family member? **

The three most important components to think about if I were building a computer for myself would be: RAM: I would have the most amount of RAM possible because the more RAM you have the faster a computer can access data, which will make running applications faster. Processor: I would want a processor with fast speeds and multiple cores to run multiple processes at the same time. This will help to allow processes to run smoothly and quickly with little lag. Storage Capacity: I store a lot of files on my local disk, so I need a good amount of storage. I do photography and I upload most of my photos to my computer. I also use a lot of applications that use a lot of storage space, so I would need a big storage capacity.

If I were to design a computer I would design it for my brother who plays a lot of video games. Since I would be designing a gaming PC, I think the most important components to consider would be: RAM: Video games require a lot of RAM to access game information quickly, so the computer would ideally have maximum RAM possible to run bigger video games. Processor: Gaming PCs require powerful multi-core processors to run all the tasks it requires to run bigger video games. GPU: A lot of games nowadays have very complicated/ detailed graphics which require a powerful GPU to process them smoothly.

Think back to the last time you had to troubleshoot a problem with your computer. What steps did you follow? Did you follow a different set of steps the book recommends, and if so, do you think following the book’s steps would have worked out better or worse? I have not had any recent problems with my computer that I can remember, but I have had a lot of problems with my phone that I have had to troubleshoot through. I had recently bought a new phone, a Samsung Galaxy a51. It was working great for about 2 months, and then all of a sudden I was not able to receive texts or calls. I was very confused because I was perfectly able to make texts and calls with my old sim chips for that 2 month period and then all of a sudden I wasn't. My first steps to troubleshoot this were physical. I removed the sim chip, cleaned it and placed it back in the phone. I also just tried simply turning the data on and off again. When that didn’t work, I took the sim chip from my mom's phone and attempted to use it in my phone to see if it was a problem with my sim chip or my phone. Her chip didn’t work so I went online and did some research on the issue to see what was wrong. One of the things I had found was that my phone might not have been compatible with my cell phone service, which I dismissed because the texting and calling worked before. After doing research I called my ISP to see if they could help with the issue. The issue actually did end up being that my phone could not connect to the cell service, which made no sense to me because I was using it before I called them. But since I bought my phone off amazon my ISP didn’t let it connect. I eventually had to get another phone. This process might have seemed like a failure in the end, but I think it was a mess up on my part because I didn’t initially look and see that my phone supported my ISP, but I am proud that I was able to figure out what was wrong. This is an example of my troubleshooting methods. I start with basic troubleshooting, turn it on/off, make sure things are connected, make sure things are turned on, etc. Then I turn to the internet and start researching. I attempt things that I find. Sometimes I will use other technology I have to assist with what I am doing, to see if it's a problem with the technology or with something else entirely. If I cannot figure it out from these methods, I then look to whatever tech support there may be, because tech support professionals have resecourses that I may not have to fix the issue. I think I pretty much follow what they suggest, but I need to start documenting my troubleshooting methods so I am able to look back on them.

Helpful Computer Designing/Building Links:

How to Build a Gaming PC

PC Components(Newegg)

CAD/CAM - Fusion 360

Custom PC Builder(Newegg)

PC Component Comparison