SYS 140 Week 5 Journal - ryanm292002/Ryans-Repository GitHub Wiki

Design Overview

IT is often classified as troubleshooting broken technology but there's also jobs available for general designing and employers often look out for people who not only can troubleshoot but also has the design mind that can factor in all the parts a computer uses to function. At the top of Blooms Taxonomy is creating or designing which is the most valuable and rare type of person.

Computer System Design

Every single person uses computers for their own unique uses. Engineers and other types of architects and general graphic designers use CAD machines. CAD machines and similar types of high graphics machines often require the components: Maximum system RAM, An SSD, High-end video card(s) with maximum video RAM and graphics processing unit (GPU), Large display or dual displays, Large-capacity hard drive(s), Optional peripherals such as digital tablets, scanners, plotters, and 3D printers, Good-quality mouse or input device. Another type of system that is widely used is gamin computers, gamers often build their own systems but they can come prebuilt as well. Components that are often included in gaming systems are powerful multicore processor(s), High-end video cards (with maximum video RAM and specialized GPU), High-definition sound card and speakers, High-end system cooling, An SSD, Large amount of RAM, Large display or dual displays, Quality mouse, Optional gaming console, and usually a headphones with a microphone. Another type of systems include audio and video editing systems which include components like: Specialized video card with maximum video RAM and GPU, Specialized audio (sound) card and speakers, Very fast and large-capacity hard drive, Dual monitors, Powerful multicore processor(s), Large amount of system RAM, Quality mouse, and a possible digital tablet or scanner. NAS or network attached storage basically can be summed up as a box of drives that can be used for anything from file sharing to media streaming. NAS devices require: Media streaming, File sharing, Gigabit NIC (possibly multiple NICs), RAID array, Multiple hard drives, Multiple SSDs. Virtualization can either be one host basically virtually streaming to another user who can control the device or you can have a device with a separate virtual operating system. Home Servers are any device that are solely used to to just store things. Industrial Computers are computers that are used for one function like a hardware stores inventory computer or something like that. Mobile computers can be anything you can use on when traveling, it needs specific design requirements to be able to easy to move.

Motherboard and Associated Component Design

When looking looking to purchase a new system you need to make sure 3 components especially work together in order for it to work, those components are the motherboard, chipset and the CPU. You have to make sure things like the motherboard CPU type and CPU brand match up so they actually work. Memory also correlates with these components because the motherboard and chip set type affects the type of memory, the amount of memory and how many channels are supported. The components and just general things you need to consider are the motherboard form factor, chipset, whether the CPU is included or needs to be purchased separately, CPU size, Motherboard socket size, Nanotechnology used with the processor and/or chipset (14 nm, 22 nm, 32 nm, 45 nm, and so on), CPU cooling, RAM, Number and type of ports.

Storage Subsystem Design

This is all the storage devices you have in your device, like flash memory or internal, external hard drives or even optical drives, the way you set up you system is your design.

Troubleshooting Overview

When working on a problem every technician should know the steps of trouble shooting: Step 1. Identify the problem, Step 2. Establish a theory of probable cause (question the obvious), Step 3. Test the theory to determine the cause. Step 4. Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and implement a solution. Step 5. Verify full system functionality and, if applicable, implement preventive measures. Step 6. Document findings, actions, and outcomes.

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? I think the 3 main components of any system should be the motherboard, processor and memory as in RAM.

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 than the book recommends, and if so, do you think following the book's steps would have worked out better or worse? Yes actually in high school we learned the same exact steps for troubleshooting a device, the last time I had to use it was back at my job working in the IT department of a lumber company called Maki in Massachusetts. There was a time clock system that was just blank, the computer would turn on and just power off two seconds later, I did simple things like identify that some thing was wrong with the power, the first thing I did was unplug the power cord and blew it out cause there was alot of saw dust and in fact that worked.