Friday 23 January 2015
Inside a Computer
There are different components in a computer.
CPU (Central Processing Unit)- Processes information.
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)- Renders any graphics the PC needs.
RAM (Random Access Memory)- Stores temporary data
Monitor- Displays stuff.
Mouse- Moves cursor.
Keyboard- Input commands.
Heatsink- Vents heat generated by larger components.
Motherboard- Central hub for components,
Sound Card- Makes sound stuff happen.
Cooling- Cools.
PSU- Supplies power.
SSD- Stores data
HDD- Stores data
Optical Drive- Reads disks,
Network Adapter- Connects to networks.
Other Peripherals.
CPU (Central Processing Unit)- Processes information.
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)- Renders any graphics the PC needs.
RAM (Random Access Memory)- Stores temporary data
Monitor- Displays stuff.
Mouse- Moves cursor.
Keyboard- Input commands.
Heatsink- Vents heat generated by larger components.
Motherboard- Central hub for components,
Sound Card- Makes sound stuff happen.
Cooling- Cools.
PSU- Supplies power.
SSD- Stores data
HDD- Stores data
Optical Drive- Reads disks,
Network Adapter- Connects to networks.
Other Peripherals.
CPU
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit.
The CPU processes all important information used by the computer.
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)- Performs basic operations.
Control Unit (CU)- Manages other components.
Cache- High-speed memory
Clock Speed- The speed at which a microprocessor operates, measured in Hz.
Dual Core and Quad Core mean the amount of cores the CPU has. Dual is 2 and quad is 4. You can also have Oct Core. The more cores the faster the CPU will process data.
The CPU is located on the motherboard. Locked in place and usually with a layer of heat paste on top.
It is better (also expensive) to get a CPU with more cores.
The CPU processes all important information used by the computer.
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)- Performs basic operations.
Control Unit (CU)- Manages other components.
Cache- High-speed memory
Clock Speed- The speed at which a microprocessor operates, measured in Hz.
Dual Core and Quad Core mean the amount of cores the CPU has. Dual is 2 and quad is 4. You can also have Oct Core. The more cores the faster the CPU will process data.
The CPU is located on the motherboard. Locked in place and usually with a layer of heat paste on top.
It is better (also expensive) to get a CPU with more cores.
Memory
Volatile Memory-
Requires power at all times to function.
An example of this would be RAM
Non-Volatile Memory-
Can recover and transfer data even when not powered.
An example of this would be flash drives and CD's.
Requires power at all times to function.
An example of this would be RAM
Non-Volatile Memory-
Can recover and transfer data even when not powered.
An example of this would be flash drives and CD's.
HDD and SSD
HDD- Hard Drive Disk
- Larger Storage Space
- Slower than SSD
- Easily portable in some cases
- Easy to damage disk
- Mostly found in video editing PC's for big storage.
SSD- Solid State Drive
- Smaller Storage Space
- Faster than HDD
- Easily portable
- Transfers data using lasers
- Mostly found in Gaming PC's and Video Editing PC's for fast file access.
- Mostly found in Gaming PC's and Video Editing PC's for fast file access.
Storage Devices
Examples of Storage Devices and their approx. file size range.
SD Card- 500 MB-50 GB
Flash Drive- 500 MB-100 GB
Portable Hard Drive- 500 GB-2TB
Hard Drive-1 TB-4 TB
SSD- 200 GB-500 GB
SD Card- 500 MB-50 GB
Flash Drive- 500 MB-100 GB
Portable Hard Drive- 500 GB-2TB
Hard Drive-1 TB-4 TB
SSD- 200 GB-500 GB
Input and Output Devices
Examples of Input devices-
Webcam
Mouse
Keyboard
Microphone
Examples of Output Devices-
Monitor
Printer
Reactive Lights
Headphones
Speakers
The charity SpecialEffect create gaming peripherals for disabled people, these include mouth controlled devices and eye-area recognition software and hardware.
Webcam
Mouse
Keyboard
Microphone
Examples of Output Devices-
Monitor
Printer
Reactive Lights
Headphones
Speakers
The charity SpecialEffect create gaming peripherals for disabled people, these include mouth controlled devices and eye-area recognition software and hardware.
Reliability and Redundancy
Reliability- an attribute of any computer-related component that consistently performs according to its specifications. (Source: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/reliability)
This means that it runs consistently well and doesn't break.
Redundancy- the inclusion of extra components which are not strictly necessary to functioning, in case of failure in other components.
An example of this would be an extra PSU or in extreme cases, an SLI (Scaleable Link Interface) configuration, that will still work even if one of the GPUs fail.
This means that it runs consistently well and doesn't break.
Redundancy- the inclusion of extra components which are not strictly necessary to functioning, in case of failure in other components.
An example of this would be an extra PSU or in extreme cases, an SLI (Scaleable Link Interface) configuration, that will still work even if one of the GPUs fail.
Tuesday 6 January 2015
Website Design
Who is the target audience and how can you immediately tell?
The website is marketed towards male gamers primarily 15-30. This is obvious because of of the black, red and white colour scheme and its primary focus on pictures rather than words.
What is the purpose of the website?
The purpose of the website is to deliver news, updates, reviews and guides to gamers.
Is the information relevant to the user?
Yes, it delivers what the main demographic would want to see from a website like this.
What special features have been used to make the website more appealing for it's audience?
With the websites latest '2.0' update the website has become even more appealing for PC gamers as it supports many peripherals only used by this group. Support has been added for resolutions up to 4K and the Oculus Rift now work with the website.
Is it clear, up to data, accurate and unbiased?
Yes, it is updated regularly, clear and a multitude of people right reviews and articles, which means that no one person is writing everything and making it biased.
Are the images meaningful for the audience?
Yes, the images are always relevant to the page that they're on and catch the users eye, in order to get them to click on it.
Is the font size suitable?
As stated before the website supports resolutions up to 4K and will up-scale the text to fit the screen for suitable viewing.
Is the site easy to navigate and use?
No matter what page you're on, the banner will always be at the top of the page with the same links, so that the user feels comfortable navigating the website. There are also links on articles to other articles, so that in the event of a writer mentioning a game or graphics card that the user isn't familiar with, then they can simply click it and go to an article about said game or graphics card.
Does the site contain useful links?
Yes, as stated above.
The website is marketed towards male gamers primarily 15-30. This is obvious because of of the black, red and white colour scheme and its primary focus on pictures rather than words.
What is the purpose of the website?
The purpose of the website is to deliver news, updates, reviews and guides to gamers.
Is the information relevant to the user?
Yes, it delivers what the main demographic would want to see from a website like this.
What special features have been used to make the website more appealing for it's audience?
With the websites latest '2.0' update the website has become even more appealing for PC gamers as it supports many peripherals only used by this group. Support has been added for resolutions up to 4K and the Oculus Rift now work with the website.
Is it clear, up to data, accurate and unbiased?
Yes, it is updated regularly, clear and a multitude of people right reviews and articles, which means that no one person is writing everything and making it biased.
Are the images meaningful for the audience?
Yes, the images are always relevant to the page that they're on and catch the users eye, in order to get them to click on it.
Is the font size suitable?
As stated before the website supports resolutions up to 4K and will up-scale the text to fit the screen for suitable viewing.
Is the site easy to navigate and use?
No matter what page you're on, the banner will always be at the top of the page with the same links, so that the user feels comfortable navigating the website. There are also links on articles to other articles, so that in the event of a writer mentioning a game or graphics card that the user isn't familiar with, then they can simply click it and go to an article about said game or graphics card.
Does the site contain useful links?
Yes, as stated above.
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