Evaluating the suitability of a given computer system

GOOD DAY, students. This is lesson eight in our series of lessons. In this week’s lesson, we will conclude looking at hardware and system specifications needed for a given computer system for a specific purpose. We will also look at the concept of troubleshooting.

SPECIFICATIONS NEEDED FOR A COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT WILL BE USED FOR VIDEO EDITING

Video editing is the process of manipulating and rearranging video shots to create a new work. If you are going to be editing long-form videos (over an hour long) or you want to add lots of 3D effects, filters, and have multiple layers of video flying all over the screen, you would want an exceptional workstation. You may need to consider the following:

■ Getting an HP Z (or Dell) workstation; they will use only the best components, and these workstations come optimised for digital content creation.

■ You may also choose to build your own computer. In doing so, you would want to guarantee that you have adequate power supply (minimum 650 watts, 850 watts is better) and plenty of cooling and airflow inside the box.

An example of a suggested video editing system specifications is shown below.

VIDEGUYS’ MINIMUM RECOMMENDED COMPUTER CONFIGURATIONS FOR NONLINEAR EDITING (MARCH 2017)

■ Intel CPU cores – Core i5 Quad Core

■ RAM – 8GB

■ NVIDIA graphics card–NVIDA w 1GB RAM

■ Operating system – Windows 10 Pro or Windows 7 Pro

■ Video storage – 1 TB SATA 7200RPM

■ Monitor – 20”LCD

SPECIFICATIONS NEEDED FOR A COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT WILL BE USED FOR DESKTOP PUBLISHING

Desktop publishing is the process of using the computer and specific types of software to combine text and graphics to produce documents such as newsletters, brochures, books, and web pages.

HARDWARE NEEDED FOR DESKTOP PUBLISHING

■ Processor power – A 32-bit processor is recommended.

■ RAM (random access memory) – Machines are obtainable with a variety of RAM configurations. Two megabytes is probably a reasonable amount, although five are likely to be needed for the new operating system OS/2.

■ Fixed disk drives – Forty megabytes are the minimum amount acceptable and more should be obtained if possible, especially if images are to be stored. Not to be overlooked is the speed of access to the data on the disk.

■ The screen – With DTP, it is essential to have a screen which can display data graphically. In addition, in order to design the page on the screen, it is convenient (possibly essential) to have a display which can show a whole A4 page, and possibly two on the screen.

■ Printer – The printer required depends, in part, on the quality of the output required. Laser printers are able to print a page graphically so that line drawings and halftone images can be printed. The quality of the output is dependent on the resolution (how close the dots can be printed). Normally, 300DPI (dots per inch) is the resolution available, but up to 600DPI can be obtained, at a price.

The capture of data from outside and its preliminary processing includes OCR and image-processing software. Software which manages data in the computer includes a wide range of packages available for the microcomputer. Examples of packages include:

■ Word processing

■ Spreadsheet and charting

■ Database management

■ Painting

■ Drawing (including computer-aided design)

■ Business graphics

BASIC COMPUTER HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTING

Troubleshooting is the process of identifying and fixing problems. Computer troubleshooting may involve hardware or software and can sometimes involve both at the same time. The basic process of troubleshooting is to check the most general possible problems first, and then gradually check for more specific problems. This provides a logical approach to problem-solving and can apply to multiple types of products.

The most common hardware that users may need troubleshooting with includes:

■ Cable problems (for example, loose cables)

■ Monitor problems (for example, improperly adjusted monitor controls).

■ Printer problems (for example, changing printer cartridges).

■ Battery problems (for example, loose or dead battery).

HOW TO TEST A COMPUTER MONITOR THAT ISN’T WORKING

1. Check to make sure your monitor is on.

2. Check for disconnected monitor power cable connections.

Your monitor might be working fine and your only problem may be a loose or unplugged monitor power cable. Additionally, you need to ensure that you check for any

cable adapters that are not fully secured, such as a small connector that joins an HDMI or DVI cable to a VGA plug, or vice versa.

3. Check for disconnected monitor data cable connections.

Your monitor might be turning on without problem, but no information can get to it because the cable that connects your monitor to your computer is disconnected or loose. A disconnected monitor data cable could be the cause of your problem if your monitor’s power light is on but is amber or yellow, instead of green or blinking.

4. Check the monitor’s brightness and contrast settings and ensure they are turned to the most appropriate or highest settings. Your monitor might be showing information, but you just cannot see it because these display settings are too dark. Most monitors today have a single on-screen interface for all settings, including brightness and contrast. If it turns out that your monitor is not working at all, then you will likely not have access to this interface.

5. Test that your computer is working correctly by connecting a different monitor that you are certain is working properly to your PC. Your monitor may be working fine, but your computer might not be sending information to it. If the new monitor you connected does not show anything either, then test your original monitor with a monitor data cable that you know is working. It is possible that the monitor itself is working properly, but it cannot receive information from the computer because the cable that connects the monitor to the PC is no longer working.

HOW TO TEST A PRINTER THAT IS NOT WORKING OR HAS PRINTING CHALLENGES

1. If you are printing a document and the printer is printing slowly, this can be caused by a high-resolution setting, a memory issue, and/or choice of drivers. High-resolution images have more data for your PC and printer to process; hence, select draft, standard or normal mode for office documents.

2. Paper-jam problems can occur. The more modernised printers will inform you that you have a paper jam, as well as where the jam is currently located. Paper jam can be caused by misaligned papers. Start by inspecting the paper path and removing any jammed material, being careful to take out any stuck paper straight and, above all, not tearing it. Proceed to removing the tray to make sure the paper is positioned correctly and reseat the tray. Sometimes you may find no miss fed sheet at all, in which case you will need to remove the paper stack, check to see if it is squared properly, and reposition it back in the tray. Additionally, always make sure the type of paper being printed is supported by your printer. Also, remember to store your paper where it is dry to avoid moisture that can make printing difficult.

3. Poor image quality or faded type situations can occur and can be due to supplies or hardware issues. Check your on-screen printer settings to ensure you have enough ink available. You can also check out your toner cartridges, imaging unit(s) and the fuser for damage. These components vary by model and manufacturer, so it is best to refer to the user guide. If your document(s) have smudge marks, print several blank sheets of paper and they will eventually fade away.

4. When the printer does not print at all, check that you sent the print job to the right printer; you may also need to set your main printer as the default printer. Check that there is enough and the correct kind of paper in the tray. Additionally, ensure that your printer is on and all cables are secured. Both USB and network-connected computers require that the print driver be installed on the computer you are printing from. Last, if your printer just will not print, or your print job is still in the queue, the easiest solution is to restart the computer and/ or turn off your printer for a few minutes before switching it back on.

HOW TO TEST A BATTERY THAT IS NOT WORKING

1. Check the AC adapter brick and verify that any removable cords are fully inserted. Next, ensure that the battery is properly seated in its compartment, and that there is nothing wrong with either the battery or laptop contact points. Finally, find out whether the problem does not exist with your laptop at all. Once it does not, try plugging the power cord into a different outlet to see if you have got a short or a blown fuse.

1. Check the integrity of the battery by removing it entirely and try plugging in the laptop. If the laptop powers on properly, the problem is likely a burnt-out battery.

2. Check the power cable for any shorts by feeling along the length of the cord, bending and flexing as you go, to check for any kinks or breaks. Check the ends for any broken connections, such as plugs pulling loose or spots.

3. Check the computer’s settings in the control panel. Open up the ‘power options’. Open the plan settings and visually check that all are properly set. Be on the lookout for incorrect settings for the battery, display and sleep options. For example, your battery setting may cause trouble if you set the computer to shut down when the battery level drops two low, or set the low battery level at too high a percentage.

We have come to the end of this lesson. See you next week, when we will begin to look at information processing fundamentals. Remember, if you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.