ben m
Joined: 15 Sep 2002
Posts: 337
Location: UK |
| Week 2 - Computers 1 |
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Ok everyone, here are the first weeks questions - as Chris mentioned these take priority over everything else such as practicals and listening practice.
Try to reference any websites/books/magazines as the foot of your posts.
Also remember to post your answers as replies to this topic.
Good Luck.
-Identify the purpose of a motherboard.
-Explain the purposes of the following components/peripherals within a Computer, and how they would connect to a typical motherboard:
CPU
RAM
Hard Drive (Internal & External)
Video Card
Sound Card
CD/DVD-ROM Drive
Modem
UPS
Network Card
-Please define the following terms and explain their abbreviations where relevant;
USB/USB 2.0
SCSI
Firewire/mLAN
ATA/SATA/IDE
Ethernet
LAN/WAN
WiFi
-What devices may be connected to these interfaces, and which have implications for the Audio Engineer?
-Explain the term 'Operating System', and identify the 2 main OSs' in use (name the relevant platform for these OSs')
-Expand the abbreviation 'GUI' and give a description of its concept and how it has evolved.
-Briefly describe the following:
a)Application
b)Machine code
c)High level language
d)Java
-Outline the main differences between Apple Macintosh computers and IBM compatible computers.
-Name the current 2 main CPUs used in IBM compatible PCs and the current and future CPUs used in Apple Macintosh computers.
-Briefly explain the relationship between 'bits' and 'bytes'.
-Define the 3 most common speeds found over networks.
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Mon Sep 05, 2005 9:18 pm |
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tobyh1000
Joined: 10 Jul 2005
Posts: 13
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| computers1 |
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Identify the purpose of a motherboard.
The motherboard is the foundation on which a computer is built. It’s purpose is to allow other components to communicate with each other through one unit; the motherboard.
Explain the purposes of the following components/peripherals within a Computer, and how they would connect to a typical motherboard:
CPU
The Central Processing Unit’s main purpose is to communicate with memory and other peripherals and perform instructions asked of it, by using the data and address buses. To connect to the motherboard the CPU chip needs to be plugged into the CPU socket.
RAM
Random Access Memory is a volatile but primary type of storage. It holds data and program instructions for processing the data. It is volatile memory because when power to the computer is off, the power and data contained in the RAM is also lost. To connect to the motherboard, RAM is plugged into the DIMM banks.
Hard Drive (Internal & External)
The hard drive’s purpose is to allow the storage of data permanently (until deleted by choice). An external hard drive’s purpose is to store large amounts of data and has the ability to become portable and transfer to another computer if necessary. The internal hard drive is connected to the motherboard via an IDE slot. To connect an external hard drive it would have to be via a USB or Firewire connection primarily, which would then connect to the motherboard directly.
Video Card
The basic purpose of a video card is to produce an image to be displayed on a monitor when connected. More advanced video cards allow 3D graphics and input of video data also. To connect to the motherboard the video card can be plugged into the PCI slot but in newer computers it is usual plugged into the AGP slot.
Sound Card
The basic purpose of a sound card is to allow the output of enhanced sounds and music. More advanced sound cards allow input of sound and midi connections. Obviously speakers are needed for the sound to be heard. To connect to the motherboard the sound card must be plugged into the PCI slot.
CD/DVD-ROM Drive
A CD-ROM drive allows CDs to be read only, a DVD-ROM drive –(Digital Versatile Disc) allows DVDs to be read and also CDs. DVDs hold 4GB+ compared to 700MB of CDs. CD/DVD-ROM drives are connected to the motherboard via the IDE slots.
Modem
A modem’s purpose is to convert digital information to analog signals and then convert those back to useful digital information again, or modulating and de-modulating signals. It allows computers to communicate over phone lines. Connection to the motherboard is through the COM port of a network card slotted in a PCI slot.
UPS
An Uninterruptible Power Supply is used as a backup power source for computers to insure on going operation in event of a power failure. Connected in series with the connection to the mains socket on the motherboard.
Network Card
The purpose of a network card is to allow your computer to physically connect to a network, to connect to the motherboard it must be slotted in the PCI slot.
Please define the following terms and explain their abbreviations where relevant:
USB/USB 2.0
Universal Serial Bus; A standard bus type for all kinds of devices to connect to a computer. USB 2.0 is a faster variant of USB, providing transfer speeds of up to 480Mbps, fully compatible with USB 1.0.
SCSI
Small Computer System Interface; A system of connecting a chain of computer peripherals to a computer – (A high speed parallel interface).
Firewire/mLAN
A very fast external bus that supports data transfer rates of up to 480Mbps. mLAN; music Local Area Network, is a firewire based protocol for high speed transmission and control of multiple channels of audio and ports of MIDI over a network.
ATA/SATA/IDE
ATA; Advanced Technology Attachment is a standard interface for connecting storage devices inside PCs.
SATA; Serial Advanced Technology Attachment is an enhancement of the original ATA (or IDE) interface, SATA drives can achieve data transmission speeds of up to 150MB/s.
IDE; Integrated Drive Electronics; An IDE interface is an interface for mass storage devices in which the controller is integrated into the disk.
Ethernet
Ethernet is a type of local area network (LAN) connected by coaxial cable where speeds go from 10Mbps (with 10BASE-T system) to 100Kpbs(100BASE-T).
LAN/WAN
A local area network is a computer network confined to a single or group of buildings. A wide area network is a system of LAN’s connected via telephone lines or radio waves over any distance.
WiFi
Wireless Fidelity; A high frequency wireless local area network.
What devices may be connected to these interfaces, and which have implications for the Audio Engineer?
USB- Wide range of peripherals
SCSI – Peripherals
Firewire – Peripherals that need fast connection like video transfer.
mLAN – Midi Keyboards, midi controllers other audio based peripherals
ATA/SATA/IDE – Storage devices.
Ethernet – Computer networks
LAN/WAN – Computer networks.
WiFi – Wireless peripherals.
USB, SCSI, Firewire and mLAN all hold possible implications for the Audio Engineer.
Explain the term 'Operating System', and identify the 2 main OSs' in use (name the relevant platform for these OSs')
The operating system is the master control program that runs the computer, including scheduling tasks, managing storage and handling communications with peripherals. Two main OSs’ are Microsoft Windows XP on the PC and Apple Mac OSX on the Apple Mac.
Expand the abbreviation 'GUI' and give a description of its concept and how it has evolved.
Graphical User Interface; a program interface that uses a computer’s graphics capabilities to make a program user-friendly. GUI’s use a pointing device to select objects including icons, menus and text boxes.
Early models of GUI’s were less based on graphics and much more so on text alone, as software became more graphic dependant so did the operating systems, which found the birth of Windows – the now dominant GUI workstation which has also rapidly become much more based around graphics and ease of use in most recent versions; like Windows XP.
Briefly describe the following:
a)Application
A program that gives a computer instructions, which provide the user with tools to accomplish a task. Like software programs that would allow a user to perform specific tasks like word processing, email etc.
b)Machine code
Machine code is the basic language of a computer and only consists of the two binary digits 0 and 1. Every instruction or executed program is translated into the equivalent in machine code before the CPU can understand it.
c)High level language
High level languages are the programming languages that are more user-friendly. They use easy to understand words to represent commands to the computer, where each instruction corresponds to several instructions in machine code. A compiler or interpreter must translate these instructions before they can be processed.
d)Java
Java is an object-orientated high level programming language used to program applications and applets. Its development has allowed the production of advanced applications on the internet.
Outline the main differences between Apple Macintosh computers and IBM compatible computers.
Apple Mac computers are generally hassle free and easier to setup and network than IBM PCs where it can be complicated comparatively. However, Apple Macs are usual expensive compared to IBM PCs where you can buy one with faster or higher spec. for cheaper. Also, new software and hardware is generally more available and compatible with IBM PCs before Apple Macs, where there is often a delay in comparison.
Name the current 2 main CPUs used in IBM compatible PCs and the current and future CPUs used in Apple Macintosh computers.
The current 2 main CPUs used in IBM PCs are the Intel Pentium and AMD Athlon chips. The current CPU used in the Apple Mac are the Apple iMac G(3,4 and 5) Series and in near future Apple Mac will be using Intel chips also.
Briefly explain the relationship between 'bits' and 'bytes'.
A Bit has the value of one binary digit (0 or 1), the smallest unit of information in a machine. A Byte is composed of 8 Bits.
Define the 3 most common speeds found over networks.
An Ethernet LAN is the most common network speed, which provides speeds of up to 100Mbps (using 100BASE-T system) over coaxial cable.
Another common network speed is FDDI – Fibre Distributed Data Interface – which is a high speed network transmitting speeds up to 100Mbps over fibre optic cable.
The third most common network is wireless. 802.11b is the standard wireless Ethernet networking technology. Capable of speeds up to 4Mbps. However, new upgrade 802.11a can achieve speeds of up to 54Mbps.
www.webopaedia.com
www.just2good.com
www.google.com
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Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:01 pm |
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Polarman
Joined: 24 Jun 2005
Posts: 55
Location: Barbados |
| Computers 1 |
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-Identify the purpose of a motherboard.
The "motherboard" is a central element of the personal computer, the main circuit board to which one connects memory, peripherals and other devices. 1
Typically, the motherboard contains the CPU, BIOS, memory, mass storage interfaces, serial and parallel ports, expansion slots, and all the controllers required to control standard peripheral devices, such as the display screen, keyboard, and disk drive. Collectively, all these chips that reside on the motherboard are known as the motherboard's chipset.
On most PCs, it is possible to add memory chips directly to the motherboard. You may also be able to upgrade to a faster PC by replacing the CPU chip. To add additional core features, you may need to replace the motherboard entirely. 2
-Explain the purposes of the following components/peripherals within a Computer, and how they would connect to a typical motherboard:
CPU
The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the brains of the computer. Sometimes referred to simply as the processor or central processor, the CPU is where most calculations take place. In terms of computing power, the CPU is the most important element of a computer system. The CPU is connected to the motherboard thru a multi pinned socket.
Two typical components of a CPU are:
• The arithmetic logic unit (ALU), which performs arithmetic and logical operations.
• The control unit, which extracts instructions from memory and decodes and executes them, calling on the ALU when necessary. 2
RAM
The RAM (Random Access Memory) is a type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly; that is, any byte of memory can be accessed without touching the preceding bytes. RAM is the most common type of memory found in computers and other devices, such as printers.
There are two basic types of RAM:
• dynamic RAM (DRAM)
• static RAM (SRAM)
RAM loses their contents when the power is turned off. 3
RAM cards connect to the motherboard via the SIMM or DIMM sockets.
Hard Drive (Internal & External)
The hard drive stores digital data both long term and short term. For long term you store your operating system, applications and files. Disk drives improve their performance through a technique called caching.
There are several interface standards for passing data between a hard disk and a computer. These are the most common:
Internal:
ATA (IDE, EIDE), Serial ATA normally you have two IDE channels on a mother board you can connect the hard drive to. You connect with an IDE ribbon cable. The newer standard is SATA or Serial ATA which uses a thinner cable.
External:
External hard disk you connect with SCSI, FireWire/IEEE 1394, USB 2.0 4
Video Card
The video card is responsible for producing the visual output from your computer. Virtually all programs produce visual output; the video card is the piece of hardware that takes that output and tells the monitor which of the dots on the screen to light up (and in what color) to allow you to see it. The video card today is almost like coprocessors. They do a lot of processing that otherwise the CPU would have done. 5
This is why it is important to think about the video card even when you have a music computer.
Sound Card
The sound card enables a computer to manipulate and output sounds. Sound cards enable the computer to output sound through speakers connected to the board, to record sound input from a microphone connected to the computer, and manipulate sound stored on a disk.
Normally you have a sound card that comes with the mother board but if you are using the computer to work with music you need a designated sound card . These are normally connected through PCI, USB 2.0, and fire wire. On laptop also PCMCIA interface. 6
CD/DVD-ROM Drive
A device that can read information from a CD/DVD-ROM. CD/DVD-ROM drives can be either internal, in which case they fit in a bay connected to the secondary IDE controller, or external, in which case they generally connect to the computer's SCSI interface, USB 2.0 or parallel port. 7
Modem
Modem is a short for modulator-demodulator. A modem is a device or program that enables a computer to transmit data over, for example, telephone or cable lines. Computer information is stored digitally, whereas information transmitted over telephone lines is transmitted in the form of analog waves. The modem translates between this formats. If the motherboard doesn’t have a built in modem you can install a modem to the motherboards PCI slot. 9
UPS
UPS is a short term for Uninterruptible Power Supply. With it’s built in battery it maintains the power running the computer several minutes in the event of a power outage. This enables you to save data that is in RAM and shut down the computer. Normally the UPS is connected to the motherboard USB letting you monitor voltage level and the quality of the power. The UPS is via software capable to shut down the computer automatically when there is a power outage. 10
This is absolutely a must have where I live 
Network Card
A network card or NIC is an expansion board you insert into a computer so the computer can be connected to a network. Most NICs are designed for a particular type of network, protocol, and media, although some can serve multiple networks. Some motherboards have built in Ethernet cards. There are Net work cards in PCI standard so you can connect it in to one of the motherboards PCI slots or you can use external net work cards which connects to the computer via USB or serial port 11
-Please define the following terms and explain their abbreviations where relevant;
USB/USB 2.0
USB is short for Universal Serial Bus, an external bus standard that supports data transfer rates of 12 Mbps if it is USB 1.1 and 480Mbps if it is USB 2.0. A single USB port can be used to connect up to 127 peripheral devices, such as mice, modems, keyboards etc. USB also supports Plug-and-Play installation and hot plugging. 12 USB 2.0 is an extension of USB 1.1. USB 2.0 is fully compatible with USB 1.1 and uses the same cables and connectors. 13
SCSI
SCSI is short for Small Computer System Interface, a parallel interface standard for attaching peripheral devices to computers. SCSI interfaces provide for faster data transmission rates (up to 80 megabytes per second) than standard serial and parallel ports. In addition, you can attach many devices to a single SCSI port, so that SCSI is really an I/O bus rather than simply an interface. There are many variation of the SCSI standard, like Ultra2 SCSI, Wide Ultra2 SCSI etc.
Many high-end new PCs come with SCSI built in. You can also install a SCSI interface on the motherboards PCI slots.
Firewire/mLAN
A very fast external bus standard that supports data transfer rates of up to 400Mbps (in 1394a) and 800Mbps (in 1394b). Products supporting the 1394 standard go under different names, depending on the company. Apple, which originally developed the technology, uses the trademarked name FireWire. Other companies use other names, such as I Link and Lynx, to describe their 1394 products. A single 1394 port can be used to connect up 63 external devices. 15
ATA/SATA/IDE
Advanced Technology Attachment, is a disk drive or CD/DVD-ROM- implementation that integrates the controller on the disk drive itself. There are several versions of ATA. ATA is also is called Parallel ATA and should be contrast with Serial ATA which is the newer standard with higher transfer rates and thinner cable with 7 pin connection. IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) is another name for ATA. 16
Ethernet
Ethernet is a type of local-area network (LAN) architecture developed by Xerox Corporation in cooperation with DEC and Intel in 1976. Ethernet uses a bus or star topology and supports data transfer rates of 10 Mbps. It is one of the most widely implemented LAN standards.
A newer version of Ethernet, Fast Ethernet), supports data transfer rates of 100 Mbps. And the newest version, Gigabit Ethernet supports data rates of 1 Gbps per second.17
LAN/WAN
LAN is a computer network that spans a relatively small area. Most LANs are confined to a single building or group of buildings. However, one LAN can be connected to other LANs over any distance via telephone lines and radio waves. A system of LANs connected in this way is called a wide-area network (WAN). 18
WiFi
WiFi is a short term for Wireless Fidelity and it’s a wireless high-speed network .19
-What devices may be connected to these interfaces, and which have implications for the Audio Engineer?
I would say that everything you connect to the computer has implications for the Audio Engineer. But when it comes to audio is mainly:
The sound card PCI, Fire Wire
Keyboard USB, MIDI
External Hard Drive USB, Fire wire
MTC USB, Serial Port
-Explain the term 'Operating System', and identify the 2 main OSs' in use (name the relevant platform for these OSs')
The operating system is the most important program that runs on a computer. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.
Operating systems provide a software platform on top of which other programs, called application programs, can run. The application programs must be written to run on top of a particular operating system. Your choice of operating system, therefore, determines to a great extent the applications you can run. For PCs, the most popular operating systems are DOS with Windows, and for Apple OS X (Tiger). 20
-Expand the abbreviation 'GUI' and give a description of its concept and how it has evolved.
GUI stands for Graphical User Interface. The GUI is a program interface that takes advantage of the computer's graphics capabilities to make the program easier to use. Well-designed graphical user interfaces can free the user from learning complex command languages.
Graphical user interfaces, such as Microsoft Windows and the one used by the Apple Macintosh, feature basic components like pointer, pointing device, icons, desktop, windows and menus to carry out commands such as opening files, delete files, move files, etc. and although many GUI Operating Systems are operated by using a mouse the keyboard can also be used by using keyboard shortcuts or arrow keys.
The first graphical user interface was designed by Xerox Corporation's Palo Alto Research Center in the 1970s, but it was not until the 1980s and the emergence of the Apple Macintosh that graphical user interfaces became popular. 21, 22
-Briefly describe the following:
a)Application
A program or a group of programs designed for end users. Software can be divided into two general classes: systems software and applications software. Systems software consists of low-level programs that interact with the computer at a very basic level. This includes operating systems, compilers, and utilities for managing computer resources.
In contrast, applications software (also called end-user programs) includes database programs, word processors, and spreadsheets. You could say that applications software sits on top of systems software because it is unable to run without the operating system and system utilities. 23
b)Machine code
Machine code is the lowest-level programming language (except for computers that utilize programmable microcode). Machine languages are the only languages understood by computers. They consist entirely of numbers. Programmers use either a high-level programming language or an assembly language. An assembly language contains the same instructions as a machine language, but the instructions and variables have names instead of being just numbers.
Programs written in high-level languages are translated into assembly language or machine language by a compiler. Assembly language programs are translated into machine language by a program called an assembler.
Every CPU has its own unique machine language. Programs must be rewritten or recompiled, therefore, to run on different types of computers. 24
c) High level language
Advanced computer programming language that isn't limited by the type of computer or for one specific job and are more easily understood. Example of high level languages are C++ and Pascal. 25
d) Java
Java is a programming language developed by Sun Microsystems that was first introduced to the public in 1995 and today is widely used to create Internet applications and other software programs.
When used on the Internet Java allows for small programs known as an applets to be downloaded enabling the user perform a specific function or feature that is not available with the standard web browser. 26
-Outline the main differences between Apple Macintosh computers and IBM compatible computers.
Apple uses OS X and PC uses Windows. The hard ware architecture and its components in a Mac are always tested by Apple. PC can utilize any hardware from any PC hardware manufacturer.
Generally you pay a higher price for a Mac than a PC with identical performance. There are more software for PC than Mac.
-Name the current 2 main CPUs used in IBM compatible PCs and the current and future CPUs used in Apple Macintosh computers.
For IBM compatible the two main CPUs are AMD and Intel. Apple uses IBM processors (G4, G5) but will soon switch to Intel CPUs. 27
-Briefly explain the relationship between 'bits' and 'bytes'.
Bit stands for binary digit, the smallest unit of information on a computer. A single bit can hold only one of two values: 0 or 1. One byte contains 8 bits.
BIT is abbreviated to a small b like 10Mbps and BYTE is abbreviated to a capital B like 10MB. 28, 29
-Define the 3 most common speeds found over networks.
1. Ethernet
The Ethernet protocol is by far the most widely used. Ethernet uses an access method called CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection). This is a system where each computer listens to the cable before sending anything through the network. If the network is clear, the computer will transmit. If some other node is already transmitting on the cable, the computer will wait and try again when the line is clear. Sometimes, two computers attempt to transmit at the same instant. When this happens a collision occurs. Each computer then backs off and waits a random amount of time before attempting to retransmit. With this access method, it is normal to have collisions. However, the delay caused by collisions and retransmitting is very small and does not normally affect the speed of transmission on the network. Speed 10Mbps
2. Fast Ethernet
To allow for an increased speed of transmission, the Ethernet protocol has developed a new standard that supports 100 Mbps. This is commonly called Fast Ethernet. Fast Ethernet requires the use of different, more expensive network concentrators/hubs and network interface cards. In addition, category 5 twisted pair or fiber optic cable is necessary.
3. Wireless Network
Wireless local area networks (WLANs) feature differing levels of performance depending on which Wi-Fi standard they support. 802.11b WLANs offer maximum theoretical bandwidth of 11 Mbps. 802.11a and 802.11g WLANs offer theoretical bandwidth up to 54 Mbps. 30, 31
1. http://www.notam02.no/motherboard/01_03.html
2. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/m/motherboard.html
3. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/R/RAM.html
4. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/h/hard_disk_drive.html
5. http://www.pcguide.com/ref/video/index.htm
6. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/s/sound_card.html
7. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/CD_ROM_player.html
8. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
9. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/m/modem.html
10. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/U/UPS.html
11. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/n/network_interface_card_NIC.html
12. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/U/USB.html
13. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/U/USB_2_0.html
14. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
15. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/I/IEEE_1394.html
16. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/ATA.html
17. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/E/Ethernet.html
18. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/l/local_area_network_LAN.html
19. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/Wi_Fi.html
20. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/o/operating_system.html
21. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/G/Graphical_User_Interface_GUI.html
22. http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/g/gui.htm
23. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/a/application.html
24. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/m/machine_language.html
25. http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/h/highll.htm
26. http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/j/java.htm
27. http://www.inetdaemon.com/tutorials/computers/hardware/cpu/
28. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/b/bit.html
29. http://www.homenethelp.com/web/explain/about-network-speeds.asp
30. http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/wireless/f/wirelessspeed.htm
31. http://fcit.usf.edu/network/chap2/chap2.htm |
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Fri Sep 09, 2005 9:59 pm |
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K
Joined: 12 Apr 2005
Posts: 10
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-Identify the purpose of a motherboard.
ANSWER: The main printed circuit board in a computer that carries the system buses. It is equipped with sockets to which all processors, memory modules, plug-in cards, daughterboards, or peripheral devices are connected.
-Explain the purposes of the following components/peripherals within a Computer, and how they would connect to a typical motherboard:
CPU : Central processing unit. The main computational section of a computer that interprets and executes instructions
RAM : Hard Drive (Internal & External) random-access memory: the most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on; an integrated circuit memory chip allows information to be stored or accessed in any order and all storage locations are equally accessible
Video Card : A card the fits into a computer's expansion slot so you can edit and/or display digital video.it allso generates signals nessisary to to drive or control a spesific moniter type
Sound Card : A board placed in an IBM-compatible computer expansion slot which typically adds a MIDI interface, an internal tone generator, and the ability to record and play back samples of digital audio signal.
CD/DVD-ROM Drive : a device to read information for cds and dvds. it attaches to a ADI buse
Modem :an electronic device the converts computer signals into an analog signals in order to transmit data over a telephone line. the device in the computer that conects to the internet
UPS : Uninterruptible Power Supply.A UPS is primarily used as a back up power source for computers and computer networks to insure on-going operation in the event of a power failure. Sophisticated units also have power conditioning and power monitoring features.
Network Card : An expansion card that is installed in an available slot in a computer so that it may connect and communicate to another computer
-Please define the following terms and explain their abbreviations where relevant;
USB/USB 2.0 : Universal Serial Bus. An external peripheral interface standard for communication between a computer and external peripherals over a cable using bi-serial transmission
SCSI :Small Computer System Interface, an industry standard interface that provides high-speed access to peripheral devices.
Firewire/mLAN : firewire:A very fast external bus that supports data transfer rates of up to 400 Mbps developed by Apple, FireWire falls under the IEEE 1394 standard./ mLAN :
ATA/SATA/IDE :ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment). SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) IDA (integrated drive electronics).A hard drive whose disk controller is integrated into the drive eliminating the need for a controller cable and thus increasing speed as well as reducing price.
Ethernet : A local area network allowing several computers to transfer data over a communications cable.
LAN/WAN :LAN: a local computer network for communication between computers; especially a network connecting computers and word processors and other electronic office equipment to create a communication system between offices /WAN: wide-area network; a network that uses high-speed, long-distance communications technology (eg, phone lines and satellites) to connect computers over long distances.
WiFi : wireless local area network: a local area network that uses high frequency radio signals to transmit and receive data over distances of a few hundred feet; uses ethernet protocol
-What devices may be connected to these interfaces, and which have implications for the Audio Engineer?
ANSWER: a hard disk recorder can transfer infromation through USB or Ethernet or firewire . a digital interface can be conected through the sound card ie.alesis adat
-Explain the term 'Operating System', and identify the 2 main OSs' in use (name the relevant platform for these OSs')
ANSWER:An operating system (OS) is the computer program that manages all other programs on the machine. the most widely used OSs are windows on an IBM coumpter and linux for apple
-Expand the abbreviation 'GUI' and give a description of its concept and how it has evolved.
ANSWER: Graphical User Interface : A program interface that uses a computer's graphics capabilities to make the program easier to use. Graphical interfaces use a pointing device to select objects, including icons, menus, text boxes, etc. A GUI includes standard formats for representing text and graphics.
-Briefly describe the following:
a)Application : a software program that allows a user to perform specific tasks like word processing, email, accounting, database management.
b)Machine code : a set of instructions coded so that the computer can use it directly without further translation
c)High level language : A programming language whose statements are translated into more than one machine language instruction. Examples of high level languages are BASIC, FORTRAN, COBOL, and PASCAL.
d)Java : Java is an object-oriented programming language
-Outline the main differences between Apple Macintosh computers and IBM compatible computers.
ANSWER: diffent programs used , different OSs
-Name the current 2 main CPUs used in IBM compatible PCs and the current and future CPUs used in Apple Macintosh computers.
-Briefly explain the relationship between 'bits' and 'bytes'.
-Define the 3 most common speeds found over networks
ANSWER: dailup , broadband , |
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Sun Sep 11, 2005 3:09 pm |
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AndyBarber
Joined: 09 Sep 2005
Posts: 18
Location: North Wales |
| mt week2 answers andy barber |
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MT Week 2 - Questions Computers 1
ANDY BARBER
1. Identify the purpose of a motherboard.
-Also known as Main Boards/System Boards
- Primary purpose of the motherboard is to allow other components to communicate to each other via the motherboard. It houses all the components and turns it into one "unit".
- Once a component is plugged in, the motherboard will allow it to interact with other components using its electronic circuits.
- It is the foundation on which the rest of the computer is built
2. Explain the purposes of the following components/peripherals within a Computer, and how they would connect to a typical motherboard:
CPU - CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT.
Basic brains of the operation
Controls and manipulates data to produce the require information
Higher Mhz allows faster calculations
Integrated circuit (formal name for microchip)
Chip consists of at least two interconnected semiconductor devices, mainly transistors, as well as passive components like resistors
CPU uses numerous pins to connect directly to the motherboard (in electronics a pin is an electric interconnection)
RAM - Random Access Memory
Also known as primary storage
A memory device in which information can be accessed in any order.
Temporarily holds data and program instructions for processing the data.
Require power to maintain their content
RAM slots are available straight for the mother board and are assigned a BUS ADDRESS
2 most common types are EDO and SDRAM
Hard Drive (Internal & External)
The primary computer storage device, which spins, reads and writes one or more fixed disk platters
The term "hard" differentiates high-capacity rigid disks made of aluminium or glass from low-capacity floppy disks made of plastic
Internal connected via IDE cable
External are the same as internal except they are mobile and can be plugged into various computers, These are currently connected via USB
Video Card - Display/Graphics Cards
Video card allows you to see
Monitor plugged into the video card
Card produces an image which will be displayed on the screen
Usually plugged to the motherboard via a PCI BUS
Sound Card
Allows you to hear sounds, speech and music
Plugged to the motherboard via, PCI BUS, USB or FIREWIRE
2 types; 3D-sound cards and non-3D-sound cards
CD/DVD-ROM Drive
CD stands for Compact Disc
DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disc
Both store data on a disk, ROM meaning data can only be read and not written
Internal Drives are connected via IDE cable going into the motherboard external currently use USB
Modem - (MOdulator-DEModulator)
A device for transmitting usually digital data over telephone wires by modulating the data into an audio signal to send it and demodulating an audio signal into data to receive it.
Can be connected internally via PCI bus slot or externally via USB or SERIAL
Plugged into a standard telephone line at other end
UPS -(Uninterruptible Power Supply)
Provides battery backup when the electrical power fails or drops to an unacceptable voltage level
Battery size important
Usually an external module connected to PC’s power supply
Network Card - (network adapter, network interface card, NIC)
A network card is a piece of computer hardware designed to provide for computer communication over a computer network.
They used to be expansion cards to plug into a computer PCI BUS, newer computers have a network interface built into the motherboard
A network card typically has a twisted pair, BNC, or AUI socket where the network cable is connected
3. Please define the following terms and explain their abbreviations where relevant;
USB/USB 2.0 -(Universal Serial Bus)
Hardware interface for attaching peripheral devices
4 ports or more standard
Can be connected without turning the computer off, enabling removable devices to be plugged and unplugged as needed
USB 1.0 and 1.1 has a maximum bandwidth of 12 Mbps (mega/million bits per second)
USB 2.0 is faster having 480 Mbps for Hi-Speed
SCSI - (Small Computer System Interface) Pronounced "scuzzy”
SCSI is a hardware interface that allows for the connection of up to 15 peripheral devices to a single PCI board called a "SCSI host adapter" that plugs into the motherboard
SCSI peripherals are daisy chained together
Firewire - (I.LINK or IEEE 1394 standard)
Personal computer and digital video serial bus interface standard
Offers high-speed communications and isochronous real-time data services
High-speed serial bus developed by Apple and Texas Instruments that allows for the connection of up to 63 devices
Can run up to speeds of 3,200 Mbps (good for multimedia operations)
Supports HOT SWOPPING
mLAN - (music Local Area Network)
Developed by Yamaha
Based on Firewire and used to transport audio, video and MIDI data
Provides increased connection management
OHCI-compliant FireWire card is required to connect mLAN equipment
ATA - (Advanced Technology Attachment)
The specification for IDE drives
Standard disk drive interface
IDE -(Integrated Drive Electronics)
Hardware interface used to connect hard disks, optical disks and tape drives to a PC
2 Enhanced IDE (EIDE) sockets are built onto the motherboard, each socket can connect two drives via a 40-pin ribbon cable for CD-ROMs and similar devices (80-wire cable for fast hard disks)
Drives configured and MASTER and SLAVE
More economical than SCSI
SATA - (Serial ATA)
Serial version of the ATA (IDE) interface
Provides a point-to-point channel between motherboard and drive rather than the Parallel ATA (PATA) master-slave architecture that supports two drives on the same cable.
Ethernet
Most widely used local area network (LAN) access method
Allows connection to a company or home network as well as to a cable modem or DSL modem for Internet access
LAN - (local area network)
Network contained within a building or complex
WAN - (Wide Area Network)
Communications network that covers a wide geographic area, such as state or country
WiFi - (Wireless-Fidelity)
Conformance to the IEEE 802.11e standard, which allows real time audio and video data to have priority over regular data.
4. What devices may be connected to these interfaces, and which have implications for the Audio Engineer?
High speed interfacing from Firewire and USB allows music production to be recorded at higher resolutions and sample rates. Modern external audio interfaces are now much more powerful and many can be used at the same time (daisy chaining) thanks to the speed in which the computer and music hardware can communicate. Audio calculations can be made by these external devices taking some of the strain of the CPU. External audio interfacing are also coming with built in effects that can be used as software plug-ins, further reducing strain on the CPU
PC Networks (LAN or WAN) provide excellent communication between musicians who may not be working in the same room/country as each other. High speed file sharing is now possible allowing projects to be worked on from all over the world. Distribution and sales of music has now become quicker and more efficient.
Modern IDE Hardware interfacing allows more storage and faster access to data. The computer musician is able to run large numbers of audio tracks at the same time. External hard-drives (music data only) are now being used via Firewire giving even greater performance
USB interfacing provides a new input for midi controllers. With a stable performance this can free up regular midi ports for other devices also allowing more than one midi controller to be used.
Ethernet systems allow music studios to use several computers within the same environment. Data for a particular song can be accessed and manipulated on various systems.
Using an mLAN set-up will enable the computer musician to work more efficiently (Reduced cable routing and more stable interfacing for all equipment involved). Recent developments with mLAN have been made allowing communication between computers and digital mixers like the Yamaha 01x. Use of WiFi will also stabilized audio operations within the PC, reducing error and crashing.
5. Explain the term 'Operating System', and identify the 2 main OSs' in use (name the relevant platform for these OSs')
An operating system (OS) is a piece of software designed to control the hardware of a specific data-processing system in order to allow users and application programs to make use of it. It’s the master control program that runs the computer. The first program loaded when the computer is turned on. The operating system sets the standards for all application programs that run in the computer
The major operating systems in widespread use on general-purpose computers have consolidated into two main families: the Unix-like family and the Microsoft Windows family
Unix systems run on a wide variety of machine architectures. Unix systems are used heavily as server systems in business, as well as workstations in academic and engineering environments. The Macintosh Operating System (MacOS) is the most commonly used Unix based operating system and as the name suggests works on the Apple Macantosh’s platform
The Microsoft Windows family of operating systems originated as a graphical layer on top of the older MS-DOS environment and runs on the IBM PC platform
6. Expand the abbreviation 'GUI' and give a description of its concept and how it has evolved.
GUI or graphical user interface is a user interface based on graphics (icons and pictures and menus) instead of text. It is a method of interacting with a computer. Uses a mouse as well as a keyboard as an input device
During the basic MS-DOS environment Initial researchers started with the development of text based hyper-links manipulated with a mouse. It was later extended to graphics which became the primary interface for modern computers
GUI’s moved towards video games and advanced GUIs based on virtual reality are now frequently found in research
Application specific GUIs are now appearing on new technology aside from standard computers. New touch screen technology is being used from shop tills to extravagant midi controllers (Jazz Mutant Lemur) and synths (Roland V-Synth XT).
7. Briefly describe the following:
Application - (refers to application software and its implementation)
Application software is a subclass of computer software. It employs the capabilities of a computer directly to a task that the user wishes to perform. This should be contrasted with system software which is involved in integrating a computer's various capabilities, but does not directly apply them in the performance of tasks that benefit the user.
Machine code
Set of instructions coded so that the computer can use it directly without further translation
In order for a program to run, it must be presented to the computer as binary-coded machine instructions that are specific to that CPU model
High level language
High-level languages make complex programming simpler and much more user-friendly
A machine-independent programming language (ie. C/C++, FORTRAN, BASIC)
Enables the programmer to concentrate on the logic of the problem to be solved rather than the intricacies of the machine architecture such as is required with low-level assembly languages
Early programs were entirely written in machine language; that is, each instruction gave the central processing unit (CPU) a specific task to do. Such programming was a difficult and tedious task, requiring good knowledge of how the hardware of a computer works.
Java
An object-oriented programming language that is platform independent (the same Java program runs on all hardware platforms without modification).
Widely used on the Web for both client and server processing
Modelled after C++
8. Outline the main differences between Apple Macintosh computers and IBM compatible computers.
Since the mid 1980s, it has been essentially a Mac vs. PC world for personal computers
Both have different CPUs and operating systems
APPLE
First computer to popularise the graphical user interface (GUI).
Popular in desktop publishing and graphics design
Don’t use MICROSOFT products
OpenSource structure that MacOS X is based upon make it more efficient and reliable
- easier to set up
- easier to use
- more stable and break down less often
- easier to fix when they do break down
- are (virtually) free of viruses
- are cheaper to buy and maintain in the long term
IBM COMPATABLE PC
Good if you like playing with computers: opening them, adding peripheral devices, tweaking their performance or building them from scratch.
Not dependent on one make of product when upgrading .
Competition between manufacturers tends to keep prices down
Good for highly specialised software
Handles high-end 2 / 3D graphics and animation programs and the like which require a lot of processing power
9. Name the current 2 main CPUs used in IBM compatible PCs and the current and future CPUs used in Apple Macintosh computers.
- Windows runs on 32- and 64-bit Intel and AMD Athlon processors
- Apple macs best CPU is currently a 1.8 GHz PowerPC G5
(Apple intend to use Intel Microprocessors Beginning in 2006)
10. Briefly explain the relationship between 'bits' and 'bytes'.
Bit - (binary digit)
A bit is the most basic information unit used in computing and information theory. A single bit is a one or a zero. The quantity of information required to distinguish two mutually exclusive states from each other.
Byte
A byte is a collection bits (now always EIGHT BITS) can represent 256 values
11. Define the 3 most common speeds found over networks.
data transfer rate, is measured in bits per second (bps)
The Ethernet protocol is by far the most widely used
Protocol Summary
PROTOCOL SPEED TOPOLOGY
Ethernet 10 Mbps Linear Bus, Star, Tree
Fast Ethernet 100 Mbps Star
LocalTalk .23 Mbps Linear Bus or Star
Token Ring 4 Mbps - 16 Mbps Star-Wired Ring
FDDI 100 Mbps Dual ring
ATM 155-2488 Mbps Linear Bus, Star, Tree
REFERENCES
http://library.thinkquest.org/27406/low/mobo.html
http://www.karbosguide.com/
http://www.homenethelp.com/web/explain/about-network-speeds.asp
http://fcit.usf.edu/network/chap2/chap2.htm
http://www.css.msu.edu/PC-Guide/
http://corourke.customer.netspace.net.au/Mac/ |
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Sun Sep 11, 2005 3:50 pm |
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ben m
Joined: 15 Sep 2002
Posts: 337
Location: UK |
Some good work here people.
I must impress upon you the importance of getting these questons posted when possible by saturday afternoon - this then gives me time to look at them before the workshop.
K - you might want to check your answer regarding how CD/DVD-ROM drives connect to a motherboard as you'll see that you have a different answer to everyone else. Also your answers become a little shorter near the end of the questions.
Anyhow, keep up the good work. |
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Mon Sep 12, 2005 1:19 pm |
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Kepano
Joined: 06 Jan 2005
Posts: 4
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-Identify the purpose of a motherboard.
The Purpose of a motherboard is to provide one unit in which all the components of the computer may come together to function properly. Without it there would be no functioning computer.
-Explain the purposes of the following components/peripherals within a Computer, and how they would connect to a typical motherboard:
CPU – Central Processing Unit. It is the part of the computer that processes the signals sent to it and sends those signals to the peripherals they go to. It is connected to the motherboard through a socket that only it can fit through
RAM –Random Access Memory. This is connected to the motherboard through Dimm banks. This is what allows data from programs to be accessed quickly i.e. undo files etc. It is a temporary storage that loses its capacity when the computer is powered off.
Hard Drive (Internal & External) – These are the main storage devices for data on the computer that hold the OS, files, and other instructions of program that are needed for permanent storage.
Video Card- This device is what allows the monitor to even be connected to the computer and for viewing of anything. It is usually connected into the motherboard in the AGP or PCI slots depending on the age of the motherboard and card.
Sound Card –This device is what allows the computer to produce sound and in the world of recording the device that is one of the primary components to a DAW.
CD/DVD-ROM Drive – This allows DVD’s/CD’s to be read and in cases where it can write, allow for data to be stored on CD-RW’s and R’s as well as DVD±RW/R
Modem – This device allows the computer to connect to the internet or e-mail applications.
UPS – Uninterruptible Power Supply. This device allows for the computer to stay on for a finite amount of time after a power outage.
Network Card –This device is connected to the computer through a PCI slot and
allows the computer to connect to a local network or a wireless/extended network.
-Please define the following terms and explain their abbreviations where relevant;
USB/USB 2.0- Universal Serial Bus. This allows different types of devices to interface with the computer. 2.0 allows for higher transfer rates of data as well as a myriad of other devices.
SCSI- Small Computer Systems Interface. This device is especially useful for storage devices and comes in a range of different types including SCSI 1,2,3 etc. The numbers correspond to higher transfer rates.
Firewire/mLAN – Firewire allows for high speed transfers for applications like video/sound editing. mLAN stands for music local area network which allows for high speed transmission and control of multiple channels of audio, MIDI, and other things.
ATA/SATA/IDE
ATA -Advanced Technology Attachment computer disk drive interface standard.
SATA-Serial ATA is about twice as fast as ATA which allows for higher transfer speeds from the hardrive.
Ethernet-A type of technology for local area networks which allows for transfer rates of up to 10 megabits per/sec.
LAN/WAN – Local Area Network which is not necessarily connected to the internet but is a network of computers like what you see on Universities and Businesses.
WAN is a large communications network that spans a large geographic area and usually uses telephone carriers to handle the higher volume of traffic not typically seen on LAN.
WiFi-A network that uses high frequency radio signals to transmit data over short distances of a few hundred feet.
-What devices may be connected to these interfaces, and which have implications for the Audio Engineer?
Anything from a mixer to speakers. The engineer of today has a lot more options than did his/her counterparts even 6 years ago. This means that the modern engineer is better able to use a plethora of tools that weren’t available years ago enabling them to achieve a higher end result.
-Explain the term 'Operating System', and identify the 2 main OSs' in use (name the relevant platform for these OSs')
The Operating System is the main system in which the user of the computer interacts with the computer. The two most popular systems are the Macintosh OS and Windows OS (XP, 98, 95, NT, 2000). The Macintosh is run almost exclusively on an Apple computer and Windows on PC.
-Expand the abbreviation 'GUI' and give a description of its concept and how it has evolved.
Graphics User Interface is essentially what you get on a mac or pc. It allows for the user to access programs based on icons vs. text.
-Briefly describe the following:
a)Application- A program that gives a computer instructions that allows a user to accomplish a specific task.
b)Machine code – A set of instructions that the computer can use that doesn’t require further translation.
c)High level language –A computer language that is syntactically oriented and allows for specific words of code to be substituted for more complex Machine Code i.e. 1’s and 0’s versus Text.
d)Java –Java is a computer language created by Sun Microsystems.
-Outline the main differences between Apple Macintosh computers and IBM compatible computers.
Mac’s don’t allow you to access their inner-workings of programming without some great difficulty. They are also not easy to upgrade unlike pc’s.
PC’s allow for their registry’s to be accessed fairly easily and they are also easily upgradeable.
-Name the current 2 main CPUs used in IBM compatible PCs and the current and future CPUs used in Apple Macintosh computers.
The 2 main CPU’s are those by Intel Pentium, and AMD Athalon.
Mac’s use the G processors but may start using Pentiums.
-Briefly explain the relationship between 'bits' and 'bytes'
1 byte is composed of 8 bits.
-Define the 3 most common speeds found over networks.
Token ring allows for speeds of 4Mbps to 16 Mbps.
802.5t allows for speeds of 100 Mbps.
802.5v allows for speeds of 1 Gbps over fiber optics. |
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Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:22 pm |
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