ICT BTEC level 3, by Edexcel. Unit 2 P4 and M2

1. UNIT 2 COMPUTER
SYSTEMS
By George Smith-Moore

2. Cisco room

3. INTRODUCTION (P4)
 For the tasks in the next slides I had to:
 I also had to provide the ‘Cisco Room’ with 40
workstations, working computers with peripherals and
software.
 I have justified the choices that I had made on my costing
list, to explain why these choices are the best.

4. PROCESSOR
 I have chosen to use Intel Celeron G1610.
 It is 2.6GHz with a 2MB cache, LGA 1155.
 The Cost is £30.48
 From www.waeplus.co.uk
 This processor is a cheap means for a functional computer. It will not be able to
render videos quickly, but it would be sufficient for watching media and for word
processing.
The CPU is 64-bit, this will allow faster processing power and the amount of RAM
would complement this well. As larger chunks of data are processed in the 64-bit
system for faster speed.
2-core processors would allow for 2 instructions simultaneously, having 4 cores
would benefit the system, but only by about 25%.
The 2.6GHz clock speed for this kind of system is sufficient. The clock speed
represents the amount of cycles per second.
 The Intel Celeron is a cheap, but effective means for 40 working computers.

5. MOTHERBOARD
 I have chosen to use MSI H77MA-G43
 It runs LGA 1155
 Features:
 Built-in sound, 4xUSB2.0/ 2xUSB 3.0, 1x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 slots, 2x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots.
 Cost is £52.24
 From www.waeplus.co.uk
 The built in sound card, and Ethernet port will negate the need for expansion
cards. The CPU has built-in graphics so there is no need for a GPU extension
card. USB ports are universal, and with the latest USB 3.0 on board, the
motherboard will be future-proof.
In case extra RAM is ever needed there is an ample supply of spare RAM slots.
The latest PCIe slots allow the fastest data travel speeds between possible
extension cards.
The slot LGA 1155 has been used because although it is not the newest, but
the benefits that the newer versions bring are not worth the extra cost.
 This motherboard has all of the PCI/PCIe slots that would be needed for the
40 workstations.

6. RAM
 I have chosen to use Kingston single rack module.
 I will use 2x 2GB
 It is 1066MHz
 The cost is £11.46 each
 With a total cost of £22.92
 It will be ordered from www.dabs.com
 I have chosen to use this RAM because of the cost and because the
motherboard still has two other RAM slots, in case in time the
systems need upgrading.
4GB RAM is needed for the 64 bit CPU. Any less than this and the
CPU would start to perform worse than the 32 bit counterpart.
I have chosen to use 2 sticks of RAM in case of hardware failure in
one of the sticks, the system would still be useable to an extent.

7. GRAPHICAL PROCESSING UNIT
 I have chosen to use Intel HD graphics.
 Intel HD graphics is built into the CPU.
 It is free with the CPU.
 I have chosen to use this because of the cost and because the
graphics power meets what the computers will be likely to use.
 I cannot foresee the need for the school workstations to need a
GPU more powerful than the on-board graphics, having one would
only be a waste of their budget.
 Although, if a GPU is needed in the future, the motherboard and
power supply could handle a mid-range card.
A high-end graphical card starts to become very expensive for the
amount of performance you get. Because of this I have not
allocated a large enough PSU to meet the high end graphical
specifications.

8. HARD DISK DRIVE
 I have chosen to use Hitachi Deskstar OEM.
 It features a 500GB size.
 It has a 16MB cache.
 It has a 7200RPM.
 It will cost £40.00
 It will be bought from www.ebuyer.com
 I have chosen this HDD because the cisco room would need a HDD that has plenty of
space, I have future proofed the workstations by choosing this HDD.
 A 500GB HDD is not perfect, but for the basic needs of the computers, it would
suffice. If more space is needed later on in time extra HDDs can be added to the case.
 Extra GB’s of space would not be needed because, as technology develops there is a
greater amount of emphasis on cloud computing, and even without this. Student data
would be stored on a server or on memory sticks. 500Gb is fine for just the software
which will be installed.

9. DISK DRIVE
 I will be using LG GH24NS95
 It is SATA
 It is 24x internal DVD/RW
 It will cost £16.80
 It will be bought from www.digitalpromo.co.uk
 I have chosen this Disk drive because it allows the cisco room to use disks to
view and install media, it also allows the technicians to create hard copies of
students work.
 In case of a failure from the network with internet connection. Using a CD
drive to install media is a good backup option.
 This CD/DVD drive uses the faster new SATA cables and can read data and
write data. Although it only has a x24 write speed, This would be acceptable
considering the cost and the frequency in which this will be used.
 The addition of cloud computing and the advances of the internet in terms of
speed has made the CD/DVD drive become more obsolete than ever before.

10. POWER SUPPLY UNIT
 I have chosen to use a bundle deal.
 This includes the case and power supply.
 It is the CiT Shadow Black ATX case with a 500w PSU.
 It will cost £23.33 together.
 I will order it from www.scan.co.uk
 I have chosen this as the deal saves a lot of money and the case has
enough room and the PSU has enough spare wattage.
 The bronze 500watt power supply is more than enough for a basic
system, and allows a potential upgrade to some extent in the
future.
 This case is perfect for the Cisco room as it allows good airflow has
been recommended many times. This case would only become

11. COMPUTER TOWER
 I have chosen to use a bundle deal.
 This includes the case and power supply.
 It is the CiT Shadow Black ATX case with a 500w PSU.
 It will cost £23,33 together.
 I will order it from www.scan.co.uk
 I have chosen this as the deal saves a lot of money and the case has
enough room and the PSU has enough spare wattage.
 This case can fit under the desks that are already in the cisco
room.
 The case will provide sufficient airflow with the included intake
and out-take fans. As seen from the picture, the mesh front will
provide enough air-flow for the fans.
 The computer tower is rugged, and so it is not liable to breakage
over the course of it’s existence.

12. PROCESSOR COOLING
 I am going to use a 70mm CPU fan.
 It will be TX3 dual ball-bearing.
 It will cost £3.28
 From www.waeplus.co.uk
 I have chosen to use this as it will cool the CPU down perfectly.
 The CPU would not overheat, due to a lack of high-performance parts in
the system. The lower-performance parts are less likely to overheat as
the case is always cooler.
 This fan will slightly better cooling than the ‘stock’ fan. The stock fan
would cool the CPU effectively, this upgrade will ensure a cool CPU for
years to come. As no overclocking would happen, this fan would be able
to cool the CPU.
 I have chosen this fan for it’s excellent reviews, it’s low cost price, and
that it’s designed usage, fits into the criteria that the CPU’s will be used
under.

13. SOUND CARD
 I will be using Realtek ALC892
 It is built into the motherboard
 It is a flexible 8-channel audio with jack sensing
 It is compliant with Azalia 1.0 spec
 It is free because it is built into the motherboard, the workstations
would not need a better sound card as the room would not be using
heavy media/music files.
 A stand-alone sound card would be a waste of money, unless you
are an audiophile (this would require expensive speakers), which
the students of the cisco room are not!
 The Realtek on-board sound card allows for 8-channel audio. It is
compliant with the Azalia 1.0 specification. This ensures that it will
meet all requirements of the card in the future.

14. NETWORK INTERFACE CARD
 The NIC built into the motherboard is
provided by Realtek, this LAN port supports
10/100/1000.
 So due to the fact that this system will be used in a
workplace style environment. The port supports WAN
of speeds up to 1000mbps.
 With the internet speeds constantly evolving, the
support for 1000mbps data transfer makes the systems
future proof.

15. UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS
 The USB ports will be built into the motherboard.
 The USB’s on the motherboard have both USB 2.0 and 3.0.
 They will be displayed/ used through the front and back of
the case
 It will be free as it is paid for with the motherboard
 I am using these are they are standard with the
motherboard and it has 6 USB ports, the workstations
would not use that many under normal circumstances,
and if needed a cheap USB hub can be added.
 The bonus of the USB 3.0 port allows for super-fast data
transfer as USB 3.0 slowly supersedes USB 2.0

16. OPERATING SYSTEM
 I have chosen to use Microsoft Windows 7 Home
Premium.
 It will cost £69.99 It will come from www.shop.bt.com
 I have chosen to use this OS as it is still considered the
business ‘standard’. By being compatible with XP
programs, this only adds to the benefits of using this OS.
 Support has been extended for the OS, providing a
longer life span. Also when an upgrade is needed, then
the OS standard will have moved to a newer OS.

17. OFFICE SOFTWARE
 I will be using Open Office
 It features all the programs of Microsoft office: such as
 Word=WRITER
 PowerPoint=IMPRESS
 Excel=CALC
 Access=BASE
 Paint=DRAW
 It also features “MATH”
 It will cost £0.00
 From www.openoffice.org
 I have chosen this as it is a suitable substitute for Microsoft office,
and it is free. It can open most documents, and save as a variety of
file types.

18. ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
 I have chosen to use AVG free.
 AVG free features most functions of a
paid anti-virus, but the help desk
support is not as great, this I believe is not an issue.
 Anti-virus
 Support
 Scheduled times
 Automatic updates
 It is free
 It will come from www.free.avg.com
 I have chosen this as it works as well as a paid for version. And with
the ICT technicians working with the workstations, there is no need
for the help support that the pad versions bring.

19. MONITOR
 I have chosen to use an
LG 19EN33S 19” LED monitor.
 It features a 19” screen
 It is LED
 It will cost £65.90
 It will come from www.picmania.com
 I have chosen this screen, as it is not too small. Using this
screen would be good for the room, as it allows space
between each monitor.
 Having a TN panel allows for wide viewing angles,
compared to an IPS display. The extra cost for the IPS
solution makes the benefits of ‘deeper blacks, and sharper
colours’ not worth it.

20. KEYBOARD AND MOUSE
 I will be buying the ‘Gigabyte GK-KM6150.
 It has a keyboard and mouse combo.
 Both are wired.
 It costs £9.13
 I will be buying from www.shop.bt.com
 I have chosen this as it is a good make, the wired
feature is ok for the uses of the cisco room, and the
combo at this price is very cost effective.

21. SPEAKERS
 Earl will be using ‘Genius SP-S110’ speakers.
 This features:
 2.0 stereo speakers
 They are value speakers
 They will cost £5.98
 It will come from www.scan.co.uk
 I have chosen these speakers as they offer excellent value.
The quality of the speakers will not be fantastic, but as the
cisco room is not primarily dedicated to media, they will be
sufficient.
 They have no dedicated bass output, but this would not be
needed and so is a cost effective solution.

22. TOTAL COSTINGS

23. TOTAL COSTINGS

24. TOTAL COSTINGS

25. TOTAL COSTINGS

26. TOTAL COSTINGS

27. Costing's for the
computer
System= £311.49
Total for 40 workstations= £12,459.60
Labour= £20 per computer
Total= £13,259.60

28. INTRODUCTION (M2)
 After I had completed P4, I had to do M2, M2 will be shown on the
slides after this.
 For M2 I had to offer potential upgrades for the school computers
could be upgraded.
 I believe that I have completed the tasks to the best of my ability,
and to a high standard.
 A potential setup is the one described in P4, but the other setups
are listed below.
 The list of components described in P4 will be used, the only
differentiation between the invoices, is the different ‘upgrades’
shown below.

29. CPU (UPGRADE)
 Using the basic setup that I explained in P4, I have
listed 2 other potential setups. These other setups will
be placed into individual invoices at the end.
 A faster CPU would benefit the new system as some of the
applications that they use are CPU intensive, such as
Adobe Photoshop
 I have placed the CPU that is already shown in P4 on the
left side of the table.
Intel Celeron
G1610
Intel Pentium
G3220
Intel i3-4150
Runs Socket LGA
1155, 2.6GHz,
2MB cache
Runs socket LGA
1150, 3.0GHz,
3MB cache
Runs socket LGA
1150, 3.5GHz,
3MB cache
Costs £30.48 Costs £46.50 Costs £84.87

30. RAM (UPGRADE)
 Although 2GB of RAM could be sufficient, if the
computers are to be used with some RAM intensive
applications, then 2GB would not be sufficient, in case
of this, 8GB of RAM (as listed below) would be enough.
 I have placed the RAM that is shown in P4 on the left
side of the table.
Kingston Single
Rack Module
Corsair
Vengeance
Kingston Hyper X
RAM
I will use 2x
2GB
It is 1066MHz
2x4GB
1600MHz
HyperX blu
8GB (2x4GB)
1600MHz
£11.46 each,
Total £22.92
£82.00 £63.87

31. MOTHERBOARD (UPGRADE)
 The Motherboard that the systems are using could be upgraded, with
‘option 1’ they use a ‘MSI H77MA-G43’, this could be upgraded to
either a newer motherboard, or one with more features, this could be
used as a starting point to upgrade the rest of the system, if the
motherboard is changed, the processor might have to be changed. A
better Motherboard may be used because of the faster CPU socket, for
a better CPU, of for a cheaper option to cut back on costs.
 I have placed the Motherboard that is already used on the left side of
the table.
MSI H77MA-G43 MSI z87-G45
GAMING
Gigabyte Z68AP-D3
It features: Built-in
sound, 4xUSB2.0/
2xUSB 3.0, 1x PCIe
3.0/2.0 x16 slots, 2x
PCIe 2.0 x1 slots.
LGA 1155
It features: Intel
Z87, 4x DDR3, DVI,
HDMI, 6x USB3.0,
GBE LAN, LGA1150
Socket
It features: LGA1155
Intel Z68 DDR3 ATX
USB 3.0
It costs £52.24 It costs £109.90 It costs £38.98

32. HDD (UPGRADE)
 The HDD that the computers are using could be either a
HDD, an SSD, or a hybrid SSHD. A standard HDD could be
upgraded to either have more space, or to be faster.
This will make sure that there is always room on the
system.
 Although, only applications will be stored on the HDD as
the student data will be stored on the cloud.
 I have placed the HDD that is already used on the left
side of the table.
Hitachi Deskstar OEM Seagate SSHD SanDisk SSD
It features a 500GB
size.
It has a 16MB cache.
It has a 7200RPM
It features 1TB
3.5” form factor
128GB
7200 RPM
read speeds of 490MB/s
It costs £40.00 It costs £64.99 £61.88

33. SOFTWARE (UPGRADE)
 The software, could either use a paid option, or the
free alternative. Using Open Office could be upgraded
to Microsoft Office for the extra features that ‘Office’
holds. The anti-virus could be upgraded to Norton, this
will make sure he gets the best features and customer
support.
 I have placed the Software that is already used on the
left side of the table.
Open Office Microsoft Office 2013
AVG free Norton

34. Invoices
 Option one (the one on the left) comes to a total of: £311.49
 Option two (the middle option) comes to a total of: £469.24
 Option three (the one on the right) comes to a total of: £415.45
Option one seems to be on the budget side. Whereas option two
seems to be on the higher-end side. But Option three, is a suitable
system for the school computers.
But to add on to the top of the invoice, remember that ‘MS office’
and ‘Norton’ need to be added.