Upgrade of the Computer System - Essay Example

Name………………………………………………………………xxxxxx Tutor………………………………………………………………. xxxxxx Institution………………………………………………………….xxxxxx Title………………………………………………………Computer Upgrading Course……………………………………………………………….xxxxxx @ 2010 Tech Nologies Ltd Shop 1, 272 Ruthven Street Toowoomba QLD 4350 Ph: (07) 4631 2220 Fax: (07) 4631 2222 Jane Bond Geek Gadget Ltd Report regarding upgrade of the computer system Introduction Nowadays, technology is being used as the main facilitator of businesses to ensure achievement of its goals. Though, new technology comes into the market time to time thus making the existing one completely obsolete. This calls for the need to upgrade the existing systems. For instance, a five year old computer may not be able to run the latest applications due to compatibility issues. In this report, technologies computing company is going to provide information to Jane on how to upgrade her computer system. This is because she wants to expand her business through internet sales so as to reach the international markets. When a company goes global, it enjoys the advantages of economies of scale such as low production cost per unit, high productivity and attainment of a competitive advantage. Upgrading means adding extra components or replacing the existing one. The company will also provide information regarding the most suitable hardware and software components for her computers. In addition, the suitable spreadsheets for her business financial should be provided. The report will not cover information regarding replacement of new computers. In upgrading of computers, several aspects are to be considered such as the types of upgrades, technical expertise and the factors to consider in choosing the right choice of upgrade. Factors to consider when upgrading a computer system i) Compatibility In upgrading the computer system, the new system to be installed should be compatible with the latest technology. A component is said to be compatible if it fits well in the existing technology (Gookin, 2005).. This aspect of compatibility is important because one may use applications that will not go together with the ones in the market. ii) User friendliness The system and applications in use are acceptable by the users. In relation to our case, whatever type of upgrade used in Jane’s computers should be acceptable by customers, employees and other stakeholders. If not accepted, sales may fall and also the profits. Such adverse effects may result to the business closing down. iii) Cost effectiveness Something is said to be cost effective if the benefits outweigh the costs (Gookin, 2005). Therefore, in upgrading the computer system and designing new spreadsheets Jane should consider the cost effectiveness using the cost benefit analysis. Sometimes it proves difficult in quantifying the costs of upgrading hardware’s. In practice the costs may prove high and therefore, the important aspects to consider are the long term benefits and not the initial cost. The initial cost may be high but the long term benefit highest. iv) Speed The new system after computer systems are upgraded should be faster than the existing ones. After the system is upgraded, it should be run together with the old one so as to measure the speed. The speed of a computer highly depends on the manufacture as different models have different speeds and also the component. v) Efficiency A system is said to be efficient if it leads to increased productivity. Therefore, if the computer systems are upgraded, they should be in a position to lead to high sales and profits for the company. Also an efficient computer system leads to effectiveness of the system in turn. An effective system is the one which leads to more output compared to the inputs. vi) Flexibility The new system to be installed should be in a position to allow changes in future incase the technology changes. If it is not flexible then it should not be replaced. In practice the best way to that the risk of obsolescence is overcome is by ensuring that the business needs are met. Business needs highly depend on the customer’s tastes and preferences and such needs change from time to time. If flexibility of the new upgraded computers is not taken into consideration, then the business objectives may not be realizable. vii) Relevant and reliable After the computers are upgraded, the new system should be in a position to aid in decision making. This is because something is said to be relevant if it aids in decision making throughout the business process. Examples of decisions that are relevant to a business are on how to gain a competitive edge. On the other hand, the new system should be reliable in such a way that the rate of breakdowns or complications is minimal. The new computer systems if reliable, then customers’ confidence is won and this has a positive effect on the performance of the business. viii) Technical expertise The technicians carrying on the upgrading activity should be qualified, experienced, licensed and knowledgeable. Technicians who do not qualify may cost one in terms of customers, sales and profits. The technicians should also be in a position to give advice on what is most suitable for a computer system taking into consideration other aspects such as cost, time, and compatibility and user friendliness. ix) Time Time is always an important factor in every aspect of the business. Therefore, the computer upgrading process should be well planned in such a way that it is to be finished within a certain time frame. If it takes long, it may lead to loss of customers and thus profits. Also, the time taken to upgrade a computer system depends on which component or part is being upgraded. Types of upgrades i) RAM (Random access memory) upgrade The RAM upgrade is suitable if one wishes for the computer to perform faster and also increasing the overall performance. This is because the more the RAM the less time the computer has to pause to access the hard drive. Most computers can function well with a RAM of 5I2 MB or less. But the minimum RAM that is recommendable should be 1024 MB especially for Vista and XP windows. If one wants the best performance, he or she should consider 2048 MB of RAM. It is difficult to access if the computers need more RAM. The only way to determine whether more RAM is needed is by examining the extent to which the computer slows down. This is possible when opening computer files from multiple programs. Also one should consider RAM that is compatible with the motherboard of the computers. Upgrade of the RAM should take five to fifteen minutes and depends on the software’s in use or windows. ii) Hardware upgrade When replacing the hard drive, the old files have to be transferred from the old drive to the new one. This is an advanced task and it also calls for a new operating system and software’s to be installed. Because of the momentous task involved, it is better to add extra drives instead of removing the older ones. iii) Network upgrade Network can be upgraded using a network card so as to speed of the computer operations such as when using the internet. An alternative way is by ensuring that the networking infrastructure is in a position of supporting faster speeds. iv) Processor upgrade The processor can be upgraded by installing a faster chip so as to increase the speed of the computer. The additional chip can only work effectively if additional RAM is installed. It is vital to install a processor that works together with the motherboard. v) CD/DVD drive The CD-ROM is a read only computer component where files are permanently stored. They use special software that enables users to read and write. It is important to upgrade the CD-ROM to DVD-ROM drive so as to increase the capacity of backing up and copying files. vi) Graphics card If the graphics card is upgraded the performance of the computer is improved. The new card should be compatible with the motherboard. vii) Motherboard In practice the cost of upgrading the motherboard is equal to that of buying a new one. Upgrading of the motherboard is to be done only when the PC is several years old. Upgrade of the motherboard takes one to three hours depending on the kind of windows being used. Conclusion We have covered all the information that Jane needs in order to decide whether to upgrade her computers and when to do so. In conclusion, the best way to speed up the existing computers is by adding more RAM. If the existing computers are sluggish and the programs running seem to take up a lot of memory then RAM makes it faster. On the hand, if the computer storage is low then additional hard drive will solve the problem. It is recommendable for one to consider the worthiness of upgrading the existing computer components before taking any course of action. Upgrading is recommendable especially when the cost of replacing the computers is higher. Cost may also include time and productivity. It is recommendable not to run off or upgrade your computer unless you really need to but you should force yourself to work with systems that will slow down productivity. In relation to our case, Jane has reasons to replace or upgrade the computers therefore a new change should be done. Finally, it is recommendable to follow the correct procedures when carrying out the process to minimize the risk of errors. References June parsons and Dan oja (2009). New perspectives on computer concepts 2010. Cengagebrain learning. Ian Sinclair (2005). Build and upgrade your own PC. Butterworth-Heinemann Mark minasi (2004). The complete PC upgrade and maintenance guide. Sybex. Dan Gookin (2005). Buying a computer for dummies. Dummies copyright. Read More