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A+ Certification Guide
Chapter 8
Customized PCs and
Multimedia Devices
Chapter 8
Objectives
Students should compare and distinquish the needs and components
required of the following computer systems:
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Graphic/CAD/CAM Design Workstation
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Audio/Video Editing Workstation
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Virtualization Workstation
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Gaming PC
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Home Theater PC
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Standard Thick Client
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Thin Client
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Home Server PC
Graphic/CAD/CAM Design
Workstation
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Optimized for graphics
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3D rendering
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Raw photo editing
Needs
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Powerful processor
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High-end video card monitor
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ATX motherboard with maximum RAM
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Full tower chassis
• For multiple
– Hard drives
– DVD/Blu-ray
• 750 Watt PSU
Audio/Video Editing
Workstation
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Specialized Audio Card
Specialized Video Card
Large Hard Drive
– Speed optimized
Two or more displays
Virtualization Workstation
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Maximum RAM
– 8GB to16GB depending on of number VMs
Maximum CPU
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Multicore (at least 4, 6+ recommended)
Virtualization-enabled motherboard
Gaming PC
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High End CPU
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3+ GHz or better-multicore
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8mb L2/L3 cache
Motherboard with multiple PCIe x 16 slots
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To accommodate multimonitor surround display
High-end video with onboard GPU
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Suitable for third rendering
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High frame rate processing/High resolution-capable
Better than normal sound card
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5.1/7.1 surround
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24 bit, 96kHz or better
Cooling system
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To accommodate overclocking when used
• Heat pipe/liquid cooling
Home Theater PC
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Surround sound audio
– 5.1/7.1
– SPDIF
HDMI Output
– For HD movies
• Look for audio compatibility
HTPC form factor
– To accommodate small installation spaces
TV Tuner
– To enable recording of programs
Standard Thick Client
Standard off-the-shelf retail system
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Has onboard hard drive for local storage
Can act either as
• Standalone workstation
• Network attached client
Desktop applications
• Typical business use
Hardware meets minimum OS requirements for
• Windows
• Most-common open source OSs
Thin Client
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Typically smaller form factor systems
May or may not have local storage
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Can boot from remote OS
Usually connected to a network for storage and remote
computing
May run applications from a network server
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Desktop can be loaded as a virtual desktop.
Home Server PC
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Optimized for
– Multimedia presentation/streaming
– Large file download
– File server capabilities
– Concurrent processing during download
– Printer service sharing
May have components such as
– RAID array
– Gigabit NIC
– Multiterabyte secondary storage
Evaluating On-Board
Components
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System Information (msinfo32.exe)
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Processor type
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BIOS information
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OS information
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Memory
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Components/drivers
Device Manager
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Reports locally attached devices requiring hardware/software
interfaces to control functions
Software interfaces
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Process threads/running applications
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Virtualized devices/processes
Installing and Configuring
Multimedia Devices
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Devices may include
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Webcams
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Digital Cameras
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Sound Cards
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MIDI
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Microphone
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Video Capture/TV Tuner Cards
Many are USB items which are plug ‘n’ play
Motherboard installed devices need
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Driver installation
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Configuration parameters to be tweaked
What Have You Learned?
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Use Lab 8-1 to evaluate a computer’s suitability for
various tasks.
What would be a primary concern for gaming?
What is important for file storage?
Chapter 8
Summary
Students should distinguish the needs and components required of
specialized computer systems:

Graphic/CAD/CAM design workstation

Audio/video editing workstation

Virtualization workstation

Gaming PC

Home Theater PC

Standard Thick Client
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Thin Client
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Home Server PC
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How to evaluate and install components
Next Lesson: Chapter 9