Btec Natinal in IT Student Assignment package Unit: 2 Cmputer Systems Assignment 1 Guide t PC Hardware and System Sftware Deadline: Criteria achieved P1 P2 P3 M1 First draft Referral Yes/N Date Yes/N Date Assignment 2 Upgrade and Maintenance Radshw Deadline: Criteria achieved P3 P5 part P5 part P6 P7 part P7 part P8 D1 D2 First draft Referral Yes/N Date Yes/N Date Assignment 3 - Selecting a Suitable System Deadline: Criteria achieved P4 M2 M3 First draft Referral Yes/N Date Yes/N Date Assessr s cmments/feedback t student Assessr s cmments/feedback t student Assessr s cmments/feedback t student Unit grade achieved Date awarded Assessr s name U (Fail) P (Pass) M (Merit) D (Distinctin) Name f student: Grup: Target: MGOCT10
Assessment and grading criteria In rder t pass this unit, the evidence that yu will present needs t demnstrate that yu can meet all the learning utcmes fr the unit as utlined in the unit s cntent. The assessment criteria fr a pass grade describe the level f achievement required t pass this unit. Pass criteria Merit criteria Distinctin criteria P1 explain the functin f cmputer hardware cmpnents P2 explain the purpse f perating systems P3 explain the purpse f different sftware utilities P4 recmmend a cmputer system fr a given business purpse P5 set up a standalne cmputer system, installing hardware and sftware cmpnents P6 cnfigure a cmputer system t meet user needs P7 test a cnfigured cmputer system fr functinality P8 undertake rutine maintenance tasks n a standalne cmputer system. M1 cmpare the features and functins f different perating systems M2 justify chice f cmputer system t meet a given business purpse M3 evaluate the perfrmance f a cmputer system. D1 explain hw sftware utilities can imprve the perfrmance f cmputer systems D2 explain and justify imprvements that culd be made t a cmputer system. Btec Natinal fr IT Practitiners 2 Last updated 18/10/10 MGOCT10
Unit cntent In rder t be awarded the criteria identified in this unit s assignments yu will need t make sure yu have cvered the unit s cntents as utlined belw. 1 Understand the cmpnents f cmputer systems Internal system unit cmpnents: prcessrs; mtherbard; BIOS; pwer supply; fan and heat sink r cling; hard drive cnfiguratin and cntrllers eg SATA, IDE, EIDE, master, slave; prts eg USB, parallel, serial; internal memry eg RAM, ROM, cache; specialized cards eg netwrk, graphic cards Peripherals: utput devices eg mnitr, printer, pltter; input devices eg camera, scanner; cabling eg caxial, ptical, twisted pair Backing strage: types eg disks, pen drives, ptical media, flash memry cards; prtable and fixed drives; perfrmance factrs eg data transfer rate, capacity Operating system sftware: perating system examples eg LINUX, Windws, DOS, MAC OS; cmmand line and GUI perating systems; perating system functins and services eg machine and peripheral management, security, file management; device drivers; features eg ability t custmize, supprt fr cnnectivity f prtable media, security, stability and reliability, ease f management, assciated utilities, cst and supprt fr the user. Sftware utilities: security eg virus prtectin, firewalls; clean up tls eg fr remval f ckies, internet histry, defragmentatin; drive frmatting 2 Be able t recmmend cmputer systems fr a business purpse Cnsideratins fr selectin: cst; user requirements eg sftware t be used, netwrk sharing, need fr maintenance cntract, utputs required, need fr integratin with ther systems eg hme entertainment; prcessing pwer, strage capacity, accessibility fr disabled users, the ICT cmpetence f the intended user, training requirements 3 Be able t set up and maintain cmputer systems Cnnect and set-up: equipment eg mnitr, printer, mdem/ruter, keybard, muse, speakers, micrphne, RAM, hard drive Install hardware: cmpnents eg graphics card, sund card, CD/DVD drive Install sftware: perating system sftware eg Windws; applicatins sftware eg Micrsft Office; security sftware eg virus checkers, firewalls; device drivers; create apprpriate directry/flder structures Cnfigure: BIOS cnfiguratin eg setting a BIOS passwrd, editing pwer management ptins; editing anti-virus cnfiguratins; editing the desktp eg icn size, fnt size, clur, backgrund, icn chice; creating start-up ptins; setting file sharing/permissins; creating and recnfiguring applicatin tlbars Testing: functinality eg sftware applicatins pen and wrk as intended, default flder settings are crrect, desktp shrtcuts g t the right place, the crrect Btec Natinal fr IT Practitiners 3 Last updated 18/10/10 MGOCT10
device drivers are installed, the crrect paper sizes are set fr printing, menu ptins wrk as intended, the crrect date and time are set Rutine maintenance: rganisatin and naming f files; back-up prcedures eg nline, ff-line; backup media; autmatic scheduling and deletin f unwanted data; archiving; defragmentatin; deleting temprary files; cleaning hardware eg keybard, muse, display screen equipment (DSE), ventilatin grills; replacing cnsumables eg printer paper, ink r tner cartridges; replacing damaged cmpnents Btec Natinal fr IT Practitiners 4 Last updated 18/10/10 MGOCT10
Assignment 1 Guide t PC Hardware and System Sftware Learning Outcmes On cmpletin f this assignment yu shuld: 1 Understand the functin f hardware cmpnents 2 Knw hw hardware cmpnents cmmunicate with each ther 3 Understand the purpse, features and functins f perating systems 4 Understand the features and functins f varius types f sftware utilities Task 1 Scenari Yu have recently started wrk as a junir PC supprt technician at PC retailer pcexpress! wh have shps in many f the big retail parks and als sell thrugh their website. They sell a wide range f PC hardware, perating systems (including Windws and Mac) and sftware. Yu have been asked t d sme wrk n the supprt sectin f their website, where it has been decided that sme pages shuld be prvided giving general technical details f the hardware and sftware cmpnents f PCs. Create a series f linked web pages which describe the cmpnents f a PC system unit and explain their functin and hw they cmmunicate with each ther. The pages shuld include phtgraphs and diagrams t illustrate the infrmatin yu include. Yu must include: [P1] Internal system unit cmpnents: prcessrs; mtherbard; BIOS; Peripherals: pwer supply; fan and heat sink r cling; hard drive cnfiguratin and cntrllers eg SATA, IDE, EIDE, master, slave; prts eg USB, parallel, serial; internal memry eg RAM, ROM, cache; specialized cards eg netwrk, graphic cards utput devices eg mnitr, printer, pltter; input devices eg camera, scanner; cabling eg caxial, ptical, twisted pair Btec Natinal fr IT Practitiners 5 Last updated 18/10/10 MGOCT10
Backing strage: types eg disks, pen drives, ptical media, flash memry cards; prtable and fixed drives; perfrmance factrs eg data transfer rate, capacity Task 2 Add a sectin t the web pages created in Task 1, which describes tw perating systems, including their purpses, features and functins and describe the range f cmmn utility sftware which is available. Describe the purpse, features and functins f tw different perating systems (Windws and Mac), including: [P2] cmmand line and GUI perating systems; perating system functins and services eg machine and peripheral management, security, file management; device drivers; features eg ability t custmize, supprt fr cnnectivity f prtable media, security, stability and reliability, ease f management, assciated utilities, cst and supprt fr the user Describe the range f available utility sftware f tw (Windws and Mac) different perating systems, including: [P3] security eg virus prtectin, firewalls; clean up tls eg fr remval f ckies, internet histry, defragmentatin; drive frmatting Task 3 The pcexpress! cmpany sells systems with bth Windws and Mac perating systems. In rder t help custmers chse the perating system fr their cmputer system yu have been asked t add sme web pages t thse yu have already created which cmpare the features and functins f these tw perating systems. [M1] Btec Natinal fr IT Practitiners 6 Last updated 18/10/10 MGOCT10
Assignment 2 Upgrade and Maintenance Radshw Learning Outcmes On cmpletin f this assignment yu shuld: 1 Understand the peratin and purpse f sftware utilities 2 Be able t carry ut regular maintenance tasks and their effect n perfrmance 3 Be able t carry ut hardware device installatins and cnfiguratin 4 Be able t justify the upgrade f a cmputer system Task 1 Scenari The supprt manager at pcexpress! has asked yu t take part in an Upgrade and Maintenance Radshw. This will take place in a number f their shps thrughut the cuntry and will invlve yu giving presentatins and demnstratins at the shps t custmers n the use f sftware utilities, regular maintenance tasks and hardware upgrades. Create a presentatin in which yu explain the purpse f tw sftware utilities and then demnstrate hw t use them. The tw sftware utilities are: [P3] Defragmentatin Disk Clean-up Explain hw the abve sftware utilities can imprve the perfrmance f a cmputer system. [D1] Task 2 Scenari: The supprt manager at pcexpress! has asked yu t take part in an Upgrade and Maintenance Radshw. This will take place in a number f their shps thrughut the cuntry and will invlve yu giving presentatins and demnstratins at the shps t custmers n the use f sftware utilities, regular maintenance tasks and hardware upgrades. Demnstrate hw t carry ut regular hardware and sftware PC maintenance, installatin, cnfiguratin and testing tasks. Including: Rutine maintenance [P8] rganisatin and naming f files; back-up prcedures eg nline, ff-line; backup media; autmatic scheduling and deletin f unwanted data; Btec Natinal fr IT Practitiners 7 Last updated 18/10/10 MGOCT10
archiving; deleting temprary files; cleaning hardware eg keybard, muse, display screen equipment (DSE), ventilatin grills; replacing cnsumables eg printer paper, ink r tner cartridges; replacing damaged cmpnents Install sftware [P5 part] perating system sftware eg Windws; applicatins sftware eg Micrsft Office; security sftware eg virus checkers, firewalls; device drivers; create apprpriate directry/flder structures Cnfigure [P6] BIOS cnfiguratin eg setting a BIOS passwrd, editing pwer management ptins; editing anti-virus cnfiguratins; editing the desktp eg icn size, fnt size, clur, backgrund, icn chice; creating start-up ptins; setting file sharing/permissins; creating and recnfiguring applicatin tlbars; Testing [P7 part] functinality eg sftware applicatins pen and wrk as intended, default flder settings are crrect, desktp shrtcuts g t the right place, the crrect device drivers are installed, the crrect paper sizes are set fr printing, menu ptins wrk as intended, the crrect date and time are set Task 3 The final part f the Radshw will invlve demnstrating hw t install and setup hardware. Cnnect and set-up [P5 part, P7 part] equipment eg mnitr, printer, mdem/ruter, keybard, muse, speakers, micrphne,, hard drive, web cam; Install hardware [P5 part, [P7 part] cmpnents eg graphics card, sund card, RAM, CD/DVD drive; Btec Natinal fr IT Practitiners 8 Last updated 18/10/10 MGOCT10
Explain hw t justify upgrading a cmputer system as ppsed t replacing it. Justify the cnsideratins fr selectin in the upgrade f an existing cmputer system. [D2] Btec Natinal fr IT Practitiners 9 Last updated 18/10/10 MGOCT10
Assignment 3 Selecting a Suitable System Learning Outcmes On cmpletin f this assignment yu shuld: 1 Knw the cst issues invlved in cmputer systems 2 Be able t match specificatins t user needs 3 Be able t justify the chice f system fr a given specificatin Nte: Please make sure yu read Appendix 1 befre attempting this assignment. Yu will find useful infrmatin. Task 1 Scenari A lcal printing, designs and web develpment cmpany that Mr Hay runs frm hme has asked fr yur advice n selecting a cmputer fr his business. The business requires a cmputer with the capability t run effectively creative sftware applicatins fr web develpment, graphics and media editing. Making and editing vides and animatins t be integrated in the develped websites is smething that the cmpany will ffer t their custmers. He als enjys digital phtgraphy and takes a lt f pictures with his camera and edits them. He wuld als like t be able t cnnect the PC t the new flat screen TV and hme theatre system he has recently purchased, s they can watch mvies he has dwnladed n this equipment. Mr Hay is als a games enthusiast and enjys playing all the latest cmputer games. Find three cmputer systems which are currently fr sale. Write a detailed e-mail t the business identifying the cmputers yu have selected. Evaluate their specificatins and select the ne which yu think is mst suitable fr Mr Hay. [P4] Yu will evaluate the cmputer perfrmance f the cmputer system chsen. [M3] Taking all the abve int cnsideratin, justify yur chice f system. [M2] Btec Natinal fr IT Practitiners 10 Last updated 18/10/10 MGOCT10
Appendix 1 Assignment 3 Guidance Ntes The first part f this assignment will invlve selecting suitable systems. It is likely that the Internet will be the mst cnvenient place t find cmputer systems fr sale and there are a large number f n-line PC retailers. The fllwing are just a few examples: www.pcwrld.c.uk www.ebuyer.c.uk www.dell.c.uk www.timeuk.cm www.vlglen.c.uk www.meshcmputers.cm The chice f systems t cmpare is quite imprtant. If the systems are t similar it may be difficult t meaningfully evaluate the specificatins and likewise it may be difficult t justify the chice. A better apprach wuld be t chse three very different systems, fr example ne budget ne, a mid priced machine and a tp f the range machine. Anther apprach wuld be t select ne r tw laptp cmputers s that the cnvenience f prtability can be cmpared t the generally lwer priced, higher specificatin desktp machines. Btec Natinal fr IT Practitiners 11 Last updated 18/10/10 MGOCT10