Information Sheet 5.1.

1-2
TYPES OF COMPONENTS AND OBJECTS TO BE MEASURED
Learning Objectives:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to:
1. Identify the objects to be measured
2. Use the correct specifications as specified in the job requirements
A. Components and Objects of Computer System
In the computer system, there are components and objects that need to be
measured in order to run and execute well the software to be used in making an
animation project.
These are the list of components and objects that need to measure in a certain
computer system.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Memory
Data storage capacity
Processor
Video card

1. The Memory
Although memory is technically any form
of electronic storage, it is used most often to
identify fast, temporary forms of storage. If your
computer's CPU had to constantly access the
hard drive to retrieve every piece of data it
needs, it would operate very slowly. When the
information is kept in memory, the CPU can
access it much more quickly. Most forms of
memory are intended to store data temporarily.
The CPU accesses memory according to a distinct
hierarchy. Whether it comes from permanent storage (the
hard drive) or input (the keyboard), most data goes in random access memory
(RAM) first. The CPU then stores pieces of data it will need to access, often in a
cache, and maintains certain special instructions in the register.
Read-only memory (ROM) chips are located in the motherboard. ROM chips
contain instructions that can be directly accessed by the CPU. Basic instructions for
booting the computer and loading the operating system are stored in ROM. ROM
chips retain their contents even when the computer is powered down. The contents
cannot be erased or changed by normal means.
Random access memory (RAM) is the temporary storage for data and programs
that are

being accessed by the CPU. RAM is volatile memory, which means that the contents
are
erased when the computer is powered off. The more RAM in a computer, the more
capacity
the computer has to hold and process large programs
and files, as well as enhance system
performance. Early computers had RAM installed in the
motherboard as individual chips. The individual
memory chips, called dual inline package (DIP) chips,
was difficult to install and often
became loose on the motherboard. To solve this
problem, designers soldered the memory
chips on a special circuit board called a memory
module.
2. The Data Storage Capacity
A hard drive, or hard disk drive, is a magnetic storage device that is installed inside
the computer. The hard drive is used as permanent storage for data. In a Windows
computer, the hard drive is usually configured as the C: drive and contains the
operating system and applications. The hard drive is often
configured as the first drive in the boot sequence. The storage capacity of a hard
drive is measured in billions of bytes, or gigabytes (GB). The speed of a hard drive is
measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). Multiple hard drives can be added to
increase storage capacity.
Traditional hard drives are magnetic. Magnetic hard
drives have drive motors designed to
spin magnetic platters and the drive heads. In
contrast, the newer solid state drives (SSDs)
do not have moving parts. Because there are no drive
motors and moving parts, the SSD
uses far less energy than the magnetic hard drive.
Non-volatile flash memory chips manage
all storage on an SSD, which results in faster access to
data, higher reliability, and reduced
power usage. SSDs have the same form factor as magnetic hard drives and use ATA
or
SATA interfaces. SSDs can be installed as a replacement for magnetic drives.
3. The Processor
So what is the processor? Well in the simplest of terms, its your computers brain.
The processor tells your computer what to do and when to do it, it decides which
tasks are more important and prioritizes them to your computers needs.
There is and has been many processors on the market, running at many different
speeds. The speed is measured in Megahertz or MHz. A single MHz is a calculation
of 1 million cycles per second (or computer instructions), so if you have a processor
running at 2000 MHz, then your computer is running at 2000,000,000 cycles per
second, which in more basic terms is the amount of instructions your computer can

carry out. Another important abbreviation is Gigahertz or GHz. A single GHz or 1

GHz is the same as 1000 MHz. Sounds a bit confusing, so here is a simple
conversion:
1000 MHz (Megahertz) = 1GHz (Gigahertz) = 1000,000,000 Cycles per second (or
computer instructions).
Now you can see why they abbreviate it, could you imagine going to a PC store and
asking for a one thousand million cycle PC please. A bit of a mouth full isnt it?
So when buying a new computer always look for fastest you can afford. The fastest
on the market at the time of writing this article is 3.8 GHz (3800 MHz). Remember
though that it is not necessary to purchase such a fast processor, balance your
needs, do you really need top of the range? Especially when the difference says
between a 3.5 GHz (3500 MHz) and a 3.8 GHz (3800 MHz) processor will be barely
noticed (if noticed at all) by you, while the price difference is around 100. With the
money you save you could get a nice printer
and scanner package.
Now that we have covered the speeds, there
is one more important subject to cover.
Which processor? There are 3 competitors at
present, the AMD Athlon, Intel Pentium and
the Intel Celeron. They come in many guises,
but basically the more cores they have and
the higher the speed means better and
faster.
Processors now come as dual core, triple core and quad core. These processors are
the equivalent of running two cpu's (Dual core), three CPU's ( Triple core) or four
(Quad core).
Lastly there is the Intel Celeron; this processor is a budget version of the Intel
Pentium 4, the processor you find in most budget computers. If the purse is tight,
and you need a computer, then this is your port of call. You will find many sub 400
computers fitted with this processor.
4. The Video Card
A video card is used to process images so that they can displayed on your monitor.
A good video card can make a big difference in the quality of your graphics, so this
is particular important if you play games or work with photography and video.
It connects to the mothermother of a computer system and generates output
images to display. Video cards are also referred to as graphics cards. Video cards
include a processing unit, memory, a cooling mechanism and connections to a
display device.
For relatively low-end computer systems, the ability to create output images can be
integrated into the motherboard or central processing unit (also called CPU).
However, if you want to watch movies or play games on your computer (and who

doesn't, at least once in a while?), a dedicated video card greatly improves the
quality of the graphics. For serious gamers, a high-quality video card may just be
the most important part of the computer system - it's a must for rendering 3D
graphics in particular.
A video card is a printed circuit board (like a motherboard) and contains its own
processing unit and memory. It is like a kind of computer in itself. This essentially
takes the load off the motherboard's CPU and memory to process images. The
processing unit on a video card is referred to as a graphics processing unit
(GPU). This is very similar to a CPU, but its design is optimized to work with images.
The memory on a video card is very similar to the regular random-access memory
(or RAM) on a motherboard. A video card connects to the motherboard of a
computer system using a slot, typically an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) or a
Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) connection.

B. Correct Specifications of the Relevant Sources

There are correct specification of the components and objects of the
computer system for the job requirement in order a certain software will run. There
is a lot animation software to be use during animation. The Flash Professional CS6
is one of those.
Flash Professional CS6 System Requirements:
Windows
Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 64 processor
Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 3 or Windows 7
2GB of RAM (3GB recommended)
3.5GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required
during installation (cannot install on removable flash-based storage devices)
1024768 display (1280800 recommended) with 16-bit video card
Java Runtime Environment 1.6 (included)
DVD-ROM drive
QuickTime 7.6.6 software required for multimedia features
Some features in Adobe Bridge rely on a Direct X 9-capable graphics card with at
least 64MB of VRAM
Mac OS
Multicore Intel processor
Mac OS X v10.6 or v10.7
2GB of RAM (3GB recommended)

4GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required
during installation (cannot install on a volume that uses a case-sensitive file system
or on removable flash-based storage devices)
1024768 display (1280800 recommended) with 16-bit video card
Java Runtime Environment 1.6
DVD-ROM drive
QuickTime 7.6.6 software required for multimedia features
See here for updates to Flash Pro system requirements. Broadband Internet
connection and registration are required for software activation, validation of
subscriptions, and/or access to online services.

Self- Check 1.1

Direction. Match items on Column A with Column B. Write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.
_____1. It is used most often to identify fast, temporary forms of storage.
A.
Video card
_____2. It connects to the mothermother of a computer system
B. Processor
and generates output images to display.
C.
Intel Pentium 4
_____3. It tells your computer what to do and when to do it, it decides
D.
3GB RAM
which tasks are more important and prioritizes them to your
E.
Data storage
computers need.
F. Memory
_____4. It is used as permanent storage for data.
G. 1GB
space
_____5. One of the software to be during animation
H. Flash CS6
_____6. What is the recommended requirement of RAM?
I. Mouse
_____7. How many components and objects to be measured?
J.
Keyboard
_____8. What is the capacity available hard-disk space for installation?
K.
1280x800 display
_____9. The recommended display for 16-bit video card.
L. 1GB RAM

_____10. The minimum requirement for windows processor.

3.5GB space

M.
N. 1024x768

display
O. 4

ANSWER KEY 1.1

1. F. Memory
2. A. Video card
3. B. Processor
4. C. Data storage
5. H. Flash CS6
6. D. 3GB RAM
7. O. 4
8. M. 3.5GB space
9. K. 1280x800 display
10. C. Intel Pentium 4

TASK SHEET 1.1

Title:

Picture Collage

Performance Objective:
Given all the supplies and materials, you
should be able to identify following components and
objects of the computer system to be measured.
Supplies/Materials

Pen and Paper

Equipment
computer,

Projector,

Projector

screen,

Personal

Steps/Procedure:

1. Get a pen and a piece of paper.

2. Write your name above in a piece of paper.
3. Look at the projector screen. There are different pictures of

components and objects of the computer system with specification

that are shown on the screen with corresponding letter per picture.

4. Identify the pictures of components and objects of the computer

system to be measured with correct specifications.

5. Write the letter only.

Assessment Method: Picture Analysis

Performance Criteria Checklist 1.1

CRITERIA
Did you.
1. Is video card being one of the components to
measured?
2. There are four components and objects to measured.
3. Power supply is one of the components to be
measured.
4. Is memory one of the components to measured?
5. The processor is one of the components to be
measured.
6. The mouse is one of the objects to be measured.
7. Is the data storage capacity of hard disk needs to be
measured?
8. Is Intel Pentium 4 being the minimum requirement of
the processor?
9. The 1GB RAM is the recommended memory.
10.The keyboard is one of the objects to be measured.

YES

NO

References:

Computer Hardware Servicing (Exploratory Course) DepEd

http://adobetools.blogspot.com/p/cs6-system.html
http://tomguide.com