Thursday, June 17, 2010

CEDU 581 Computer Architecture Week 6

It seems this couse is close to ending, but it was fun. All of the projects we did in this course were helpful (I'm listing them for my own future reference):

Under the Hood - what's inside a computer
Boot Process
Computer Component (Very helpful - I would like to keep all of the presentations for future reference!)
Ultimate Computer
Distaster Recovery - Very applicable to me since my computer did experience a disaster
recently.
Malware - I hadn't heard of keyloggers before. I also now know about some good anti-spyware
software as well.

I am glad that we did these projects and the order and organization of the course was very good.

Live long and prosper!

CEDU 581 Computer Architecture Week 5

This week we worked on a "Build Your Perfect Computer" project. I looked around at a few websites, such as Dell and HP. I ended up creating a really wicked HP gaming computer. I'm pretty happy with my current computer, a Dell Studio laptop, but if I were to buy a different computer, I think this HP machine would be very nice. The only reason to buy a new computer at this time would be if I wanted gaming or graphic design features. I'm not as into gaming as I used to be, though, so I doubt that I would seriously consider purchasing a new computer at this time. As usual, this was a beneficial assingment for us. If we didn't already, we know know how to buy a computer and what to look for. I'm certainly learning things in this class that will help me in the future in my job and personally.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

CEDU 581 Computer Architecture Week 3-4

How does a computer work?

There are various essential components of the computer that are necessary for it to function.

The CPU is the brain of the computer. It carries out preprogrammed orders. After watching Bill Kunst's presentation on this, I would say that it is very important to get the right CPU for your computer needs.

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is located on the motherboard, which connects all of the guts of the computer, as well as the periphery devices. The motherboard allows all of the computer's components to connect with each other and work in conjunction.

The hard drive stores large amounts of data. The data is permanently stored, unless the user wipes the hard drive or uses a program to write over it. The hard drive allows the user to recall files and information during each use. Data on the hard drive is nonvolatile, meaning it can store the data when the power is not on.

RAM (Random Access Memory) is also very important for running programs on the computer. The data stored in RAM is volatile, meaning it cannot be stored when the computer is not on.

The BIOS helps the computer start up properly and makes sure that the computer is where it is supposed to be when it is powered up. To me it seems kind of like a parent that makes sure their kids wake up on time, eat breakfast and get to school on time every day.

All of these components, along with others, work in concert to do what the programmers, builders, software writers and users want their computers to do.