CS Topic 6 Report:

6.1 & 6.2

Yeyoung Choi
 6.1
Identify the resources that need to be
managed within a computer system
 Important resources to manage within a
computer system

● Primary memory ● Disk storage

● Secondary storage ● Sound processor
● Processor speed ● Graphics processor
● Bandwidth ● Cache
● Screen resolution ● Network connectivity
Primary Memory
Primary Memory (RAM)
● Place where all data/programs currently being processed are
kept

● Capacities:
1/2/4/8/16 GB

Effect on system if too limited:

● If too little physical memory exists, the system will need to use secondary storage,
which is much slower, by means of virtual memory
● If virtual memory cannot be created or is insufficient, the program/data simply
cannot be loaded
● Impacts how many processes can be done simultaneously
○
Secondary Storage
Secondary Storage (HDD/SSD/Optical)
● Place were data/program can be stored if powered is lost
(RAM is volatile),

● Capacities:
- HDD: 500GB/1TB/2TB
- SDD: 256GB/512GB
- Optical: CD 650MB/DVD 4.7GB

Effect on system if too limited:

● No place to ‘save’ work - so data might be lost
● Can also prevent the OS from using storage as virtual memory if RAM fills up
● Limits how much data can be kept
Processor Speed
Processor Speed
● Processor does all calculations in a computer system
● Speed is measurement of how many calculations can be done
per second (1Ghz = 1 billion calculations per second)

● Speed:
GHz: 1/1.2/2/2.4/3.2

Effect on system if too limited:

● Processor will take longer to perform tasks
 Bandwidth
(network transmissions)
Bandwidth (network transmissions)
● Measurement of how much data can be sent at same time in a
certain time frame (also called bitrate)
● Capacities:
Broadband = 16-100Mbps
LAN = up to 1Gbps

Effect on system if too limited:

● Limiting the bandwidth means data will take longer to move between two points.
● It affects how long it takes before data can be processed in its entirety.
Screen Resolution
Screen Resolution
● Measurement of number of pixels in height x width of display
● Capacities:
- 1024 X 768 (XGA)
- 1366 X 768 (HD 720p)
- 1920 X 1080 (HD 1080p)
- 4096 X 2304 (4K)

Effect on system if too limited:

● If resolution is too limited, the number of pixels that can be displayed is less - display
might be mixelated (blocky)
● Lower resolutions = smaller file size but poorer quality images
Disk Storage
Disk Storage
● Permanently store all programs and data that can be accessed
when required
● Capacities:
- 16GB
- 32 GB
- 64GB

Effect on system if too limited:

● System would process slower because it is difficult to find data on the hard drive
when it is full
● System would crash because system requires a certain portion for virtual memory; if
the space isn’t sufficient virtual memory space left to act as an overflow which will
result in computer freeze and crash
Sound Processor
Disk Storage

● Sound reproduction is done by a separate processor, freeing up

the CPU to do other calculations
● Can also contain a bank of ‘sampled’ sounds to reproduce
better quality music/audio

Effect on system if too limited:

● CPU is taxed with having to processes sounds, slows down system overall.
● Overall quality is not as high as in a system with a dedicated sound processor.
 Graphics
Processor
Graphics Processor

● Does complex graphic processing (3D()

Effect on system if too limited:

● If CPU has to do graphics processing, it will take longer or be limited.
Cache
Graphics Processor

● Contains the instruction/data the CPU is likely to request next

from RAM - it massively speeds up processing as the CPU
does not have to ‘wait’ for instructions to arrive from RAM.
● Capacities:
1 to 128 MB

Effect on system if too limited:

● CPU will have to ‘wait’ for instructions/data to be fetched from RAM - slowing down
system. User experiences ‘sluggish’ system.
 Network
Connectivity
Graphics Processor

● Each network card connects to a particular type of network

media (cable/wireless signal)
● Commonly found as:
- NIC = LAN/ethernet cables
- WNIC = WiFi signals
- Bluetooth = Bluetooth signals
- 3G radio = cellular signals

Effect on system if too limited:

● Limited connection types limits the way data can be sent or received in a system.
● Speed can also be a factor
 6.2
Evaluate the resources available in a
variety of computer systems.
 Types of computer systems

● Mainframe ● Cell phones

● Servers ● Tablets
● PCs ● PDAs
● Sub-laptops ● Digital cameras
Mainframe
Mainframe

● Processor: Thousands of cores

● Primary memory: Vast amounts
● Secondary memory: Vast amounts

Common use:
● Used in large companies
● Used for weather/financial models and predictions
● Used to ‘virtualize’ smaller computers
● Main players: CRAY/IBM
Server
Server

● Processor: Many high spec PCs running in parallel

● Primary memory: Big capacity
● Secondary memory: Terabyte per machine

Common use:
● Used to ‘serve’ networks
● Used as data centers for ‘cloud storage’
● Size varies according to use
PCs
PCs

● Processor: Single processor

● Primary memory: 2-16 GM
● Secondary memory: 256 GB to 2 TB

Common use:
● Used in companies/schools (where portability is not needed)
● Can be expanded by adding expansion cards (graphics cards)
● Used to be the most common type of personal computer
Sub-laptops
Sub-laptops

● Processor: Single/multiple core

● Primary memory: 1-2 GB
● Secondary memory: Normally SSD - 16-128 GB

Common use:
● Fueled by ‘netbook boom’ of early 2000s (before tablets)
● Runs strpped down OS ( Linux Chrome OS)
● Portability and battery life are fey features
Cell phones
Cell phones

● Processor: Single/multiple core

● Primary memory: 1-3 GB
● Secondary memory: usually limited, but can be upgraded
(microSD card)

Common use:
● Most common personal computing device in the world
● Getting more capable, rivaling PCs/laptops
● Biggest constraint is screen size and input options
Tablets
Tablets

● Processor: Single/multiple core

● Primary memory: 1-4 GB
● Secondary memory: usually limited, but can be upgraded
(microSD card)

Common use:
● Very common for media consumption
● Getting more capable, rivaling PCs/laptops
PDAs
PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants)

● Processor: Single core

● Primary memory: limited (<500MB)
● Secondary memory: limited (<128MBB)

Common use:
● Not used much anymore
● Used for calendars/emails
● Was overtaken by smartphones and mobiles in early 2000s
Digital Camera
Digital Camera

● Processor: Single core

● Primary memory: limited
● Secondary memory: expandable through use of memory cards
(SD/Compact flash/Memory Stick)

Common use:
● For higher end photography
● Most digital cameras now integrated mobile phones/laptops/tablets