AY: 2019/20

CIS4002 – Architectures and Operating Systems-20 credits

Term 1

Module Leader: Simon Thorne

Assessment Brief

Assessment Title: CIS4002 Architectures and Operating

Systems

WRIT1

HAND-OUT DATE: 7/10/19

HAND-IN DATE: 18/11/19

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Contents
Learning Outcomes .................................................................................................................... 3
EDGE........................................................................................................................................... 3
Assessment Overview ................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Assessment Component / Weighting: e.g. WRIT1 50% .......... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Title: ........................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Assessment Requirements / Tasks ............................................................................................ 3
Assessment Criteria ................................................................................................................... 5
Guidance Notes ........................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Submission Details ..................................................................................................................... 5
Feedback .................................................................................................................................... 6
Marking Criteria ......................................................................................................................... 7
Additional Information .............................................................................................................. 7
Referencing Requirements (Harvard) .................................................................................... 7
Mitigating Circumstances ...................................................................................................... 7
Unfair Practice ....................................................................................................................... 8

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Learning Outcomes

This assessment is designed to demonstrate a student’s completion of the following Learning

Outcomes:
1. List the requirements for computer communications in different scenarios
2. List the main components of a computer system and describe their function
and operation.
3. Describe the basic concepts of data communications and computer networks

EDGE

The Cardiff Met EDGE supports students in graduating with the knowledge, skills, and
attributes that allow them to contribute positively and effectively to the communities in
which they live and work.
This module assessment provides opportunities for students to demonstrate development of
the following EDGE Competencies:
ETHICAL NONE
DIGITAL Engage in online learning, for instance using online learning materials,
contributing to discussion boards or blogs and undertaking online
assessments

Use digital tools for research purposes (e.g. to find information,

investigate problems and identify possible solutions)

Manage data and online sources responsibly (such as research data)

by distinguishing between popular concepts and robust evidence
GLOBAL Demonstrate an ability to fully appreciate the power of networks
ENTREPRENEURIAL Use communication appropriate to a given situation including oral,
written, numerical, graphic communication

Assessment Requirements / Tasks (include all guidance notes)

Learning outcomes covered in this assignment:

4. List the requirements for computer communications in different scenarios

5. List the main components of a computer system and describe their function
and operation.
6. Describe the basic concepts of data communications and computer networks

Assignment Brief

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Design a PC and network components for LAN and WAN gaming.

Fred, Barry and Jane have recently bought the highly anticipated computer game
“Battleships V”, they are all excited about playing this multiplayer game with each other
and others around the world.

However, the trio have a few problems to overcome before they can start playing the
game.

1. Barry’s PC is too old to support the requirements for the game, he needs a
new PC but being a student he is on a tight budget and has just £400 to build
himself a suitable PC
2. The students do not currently have any suitable networking equipment to link
their PCs together. Between the three of them they have raised £30 for the
networking equipment.

You have been asked to assist Fred, Barry and Jane in two ways.
Firstly (70%) you must recommend a PC design on a budget of £400 that will at least
meet the minimum requirements of Battleships V. Ideally, you will provide a design
that exceeds the minimum specification. You will also need to choose an operating
system to use. You must justify your choice of components and should use evidence
to back up your assertions.

Building a PC to meet the requirements on £400 is easily possible but you will have to
make sacrifices on some components.
You must consider which components are the most critical, you will gain extra credit
for identifying the three most important aspects of a gaming PC.

Also provide explanations of factors that affect performance, for instance

explain the difference between the performance of DDR2 and DDR3 RAM
Battleships V minimum specification

 OS: Win 7 64
 Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz / AMD FX-8320
 Graphics: AMD Radeon R9 380 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 2GB
 System Memory: 8 GB RAM
 Storage: 50 GB Hard drive space
 DirectX 11 Compatible Graphics Card

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Battleships V Recommended Specification

 OS: Win 7 64
 Processor: Intel Core i7-6700K 4-Core 4.0GHz / AMD Ryzen R5 1600
 Graphics: AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 8GB or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
 System Memory: 16 GB RAM
 Storage: 50 GB Hard drive space

Secondly (30%), with a budget of £30 you must recommend appropriate networking
equipment that will allow them to play the game on a LAN and a WAN using the
internet.
Barry already has an ISP subscription (ADSL) but only has a modem, i.e. you don’t
need to consider ISPs but you do need to consider appropriate networking equipment.
Both Jane and Fred have wired and wireless network cards in their PCs.
Some tips and rules on completing the exercise:
1. All parts must be new and all choices must be justified – i.e. if you pick an
AMD CPU, why didn’t you pick an Intel CPU and visa versa
2. Barry needs a complete PC including peripherals and a Case, but he can re-
use his 19inch HD monitor if need be.
3. “Battleships V” is invented, so don’t look for specification recommendations on
it.
4. You may use resources found on the internet but be sure to provide a
reference to them and don’t rely on just one source of information.
Always use the Harvard Referencing system.
5. Some web-sites that will be useful, be sure to do your own research too.
a. http://www.extremetech.com/ (parts, some advice)
http://www.build-gaming-computers.com/ (some interesting advice, again get
information from more than one source)
Assessment Criteria

Report
Specification 40%
Justification 30%
Networking Solution 25%
Conclusion 5%

Submission Details

Please see Moodle for confirmation of the Assessment submission date.

Submission will be by 4:00pm on the deadline day.
Any assessments submitted after the deadline will not be marked and will be recorded as a
Non-Attempt.

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The assessment must be submitted as a zip file / pdf / word document through the Turnitin
submission point in Moodle
Your assessment should be titled with your Student ID Number, module code and assessment
id, e.g. st12345678 CIS4000 WRIT1

Feedback

Feedback for the assessment will be provided electronically via Moodle, and will normally be
available 4 working weeks after initial submission. The feedback return date will be confirmed
on Moodle.
Feedback will be provided in the form of a rubric and supported with comments on your
strengths and the areas which you improve.
All marks are preliminary and are subject to quality assurance processes and confirmation at
the Examination Board.
Further information on the Academic and Feedback Policy in available in the Academic
Handbook (Vol 1, Section 4.0)

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Marking Criteria

A (70+) A technically comprehensive submission. Both the PC build

and networking equipment well considered with solutions that
are justified well and that easily meet the specifications. No
conflicts arise from using components together. Multiple
sources of information used and referenced correctly.
B Most aspects of the assignment covered well. Good
consideration given to the PC build and the networking
(60-69) equipment, choices well justified. Some minor technical errors
and misconceptions. Sources acknowledged well
C A fair understanding of what is required for a PC build and some
consideration given to the networking equipment. Some errors
(50-59) and misconceptions evident, some justification given for the
choice of components. Sources acknowledged.
D A limited understanding of what is required for a PC build and
little consideration given to the networking equipment. Errors
(40-49) and misconceptions evident, justification of choices is brief.
Sources acknowledged put are limited but are limited
Fail <40 Fail to achieve minimum criteria described in D grade

Additional Information

Referencing Requirements (Harvard)

The Harvard (or author-date) format should be used for all references (including images).
Further information on Referencing can be found at Cardiff Met’s Academic Skills website.

Mitigating Circumstances
If you have experienced changes or events which have adversely affected your academic
performance on the assessment, you may be eligible for Mitigating Circumstances (MCs). You
should contact your Module Leader, Personal Tutor or Year Tutor in the first instance.
An application for MCs, along with appropriate supporting evidence, can be submitted via the
following link to the MCs Dashboard
Applications for MCs should ideally be submitted as soon as possible after circumstances
occur & at the time of the assessment. Applications must be submitted before the relevant
Examination Board.
Further information on the Mitigating Circumstances procedure is available in the Academic
Handbook (Volume 1, Section 5)

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Unfair Practice
Cardiff Metropolitan University takes issues of unfair practice extremely seriously. The
University has distinct procedures and penalties for dealing with unfair practice in
examination or non-examination conditions. These are explained in full in the University's
Unfair Practice Procedure (Academic Handbook: Vol 1, Section 8)
Types of Unfair Practice, include:
Plagiarism, which can be defined as using without acknowledgement another person’s words
or ideas and submitting them for assessment as though it were one’s own work, for instance
by copying, translating from one language to another or unacknowledged paraphrasing.
Further examples include:
 Use of any quotation(s) from the published or unpublished work of other persons,
whether published in textbooks, articles, the Web, or in any other format, which
quotations have not been clearly identified as such by being placed in quotation marks
and acknowledged.
 Use of another person’s words or ideas that have been slightly changed or
paraphrased to make it look different from the original.
 Summarising another person’s ideas, judgments, diagrams, figures, or computer
programmes without reference to that person in the text and the source in a
bibliography or reference list.
 Use of services of essay banks and/or any other agencies.
 Use of unacknowledged material downloaded from the Internet.
 Re-use of one’s own material except as authorised by the department.
Collusion, which can be defined as when work that that has been undertaken with others is
submitted and passed off as solely the work of one person. An example of this would be where
several students work together on an assessment and individually submit work which
contains sections which are the same. Assessments briefs will clearly identify where joint
preparation and joint submission is specifically permitted, in all other cases it is not.
Fabrication of data, making false claims to have carried out experiments, observations,
interviews or other forms of data collection and analysis, or acting dishonestly in any other
way.

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