Chapter 5 Custom Configurations Need for custom Configurations You might be given a list of requirements from a client and need to translate that into the optimal system for their needs A+ Exam On the A+ exam, you may be given a scenario and asked to choose the right PC configuration to meet customer needs. Each of the next eight sections on different configurations gives you the information needed to choose the right configuration based on a given scenario. For example, if
given a scenario where the user will be designing magazines, he or she will need a graphic or CAD/CAM workstation. Or, if the user wants to store all of the familys important files in a central location, they might consider a home server PC. Specialized Systems 1) Standard thick clients 2) Graphic and CAD/CAM design workstations 3) Audio/video editing workstations 4) Virtualization workstations 5) Gaming PCs 6) Home theater PCs 7) Thin clients
8) Home server PCs 1. Standard Thick Clients A thick client is a standard client computer system Its the standard configuration on which custom configurations are based. This is the type of client that users need unless they are performing specialized duties requiring extra hardware or software. Minimum OS requirements, standard applications such as MS Office
Minimum RAM, HDD space, Network capabilities cant be assumed 2. Graphic and CAD/CAM Workstations Designers of graphical content, such as posters, advertisements, magazines, product packaging, and other graphic media Engineers or architects Need: i. CPU enhancements
ii. Video Enhancements iii. Maximized RAM.. i. CPU Enhancements Graphic design workstations are used by desktop publishers in the creation of high-quality copy consisting of professional text and graphical images. This output is used in advertising, marketing, and other forms of specialized documentation. CAD/CAM workstations are used in the design of engineering and architectural documentation, including
blueprints in both two and three dimensions. The best type of CPU for these types of systems will often be a multicore processor Each core can execute instructions independently, which greatly speeds up the systems performance Quad Core processor at minimum ii. Video Enhancements Best technology within budget is required by Graphic design and CAD/CAM Workstations
Video adapters with better graphics processing units (GPUs) and additional RAM on board have the capability to keep up with the demand of graphic design applications. iii. Maximized RAM Maximizing the amount of RAM that can be accessed by the CPU and operating system will result in better overall performance by graphic design workstations. PS - Before upgrading your RAM, always check to see what type of RAM is compatible with the motherboard,
how many slots are available, and how the slots work together. 2. Audio/Video Editing Workstations Require: Video enhancements Specialized audio Specialized hard drives i. Video Enhancements Audio/video editing workstations benefit most from a
graphics adapter with multiple video interfaces that can be used simultaneously Dual Monitor is a must for multiple viewing of same or similar files Also required is a high resolution monitor ii. Specialized Audio Editors of audio information who are expected to perform quality work often require six to eight channels of audio and not the standard 2 channels in standard cards
In addition to audio output, many A/V editors will require the ability to input custom music from an electronic musical keyboard or other device. A term you will hear in relation to this is the musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) standard iii. Specialized Hard Drives Use separate drives for System and Data files Use large and fast Data drives for faster encoding and processing SATA 6Gbps spinning at 7200RPM or faster are recommended
SSD cards can be considered but have a size, cost limitation 3. Virtualization Workstations Virtualization in detail is discussed in Ch. 20 It allows for multiple guest OSs to run on the same computer at the same time, along with a host OS. Each virtual machine (VM) running on a host system appears to come along with its own resources Virtualization workstations
The following components are shared by the host and all guest OSs: CPU Cycles System Memory Drive Storage System-wide Network Bandwidth Therefore CPU Enhancements (multicore) and Maximized RAM must
exceed standard workstations Virtualization Workstation The following 3 constraints determine how much RAM can be installed: 1. CPU address-bus width 2. Operating System Maximum supported RAM 3. Motherboards Maximum supported RAM 4. Gaming PCs Todays advanced PC-based gaming software cannot be expected to run on an average system.
Specialized gaming computers are optimized for running modern video games PC Gaming is a growing segment of the personalcomputer market. Gaming PC enhancement areas 4 areas of enhancement must be considered:
CPU enhancements Video enhancements Specialized audio Enhanced cooling i.CPU Enhancements CPU must be able to create the action Mid-level to high end multicore will suffice Gamers overclock the CPU to reach clock speeds greater than the manufacturer by making changes in the bios to the clocking frequency to dominate competitors
Overclocked CPUs dont last long though ii.Video Enhancements Technologies like NVIDIAs SLI and ATIs Crossfire are extremely beneficial for such graphics-intensive applications. Video cards for gaming systems essentially require their own dedicated graphics processing unit (GPU) The choice of monitor must keep up with the speed of the adapter, its resolution or 3D capabilities
iii. Specialized Audio High definition digital audio from technologies such as S/PDIF and HDMI are required Headsets with Microphones iv. Enhanced Cooling As mentioned overclocked CPUs used by some gamers dont last long due to heat output High end graphics cards come with their own cooling fans Gaming-PC builders decision to include two or more ganged adapters (video cards that are two expansion slots
wide and take up two expansion slots but attached together as one unit) in one system (SLI or Crossfire) challenges the engineered cooling circuit. 5. Home Theater PCs Today though, home theater PCs (HTPCs) are becoming more popular as specialized computing appliances used to control the entire home entertainment experience. They store large amounts of video media streamed out to display devices, stream from the internet or act as A/V tuners and receivers
HTPCs give users more control over their set-top boxes HTPCs continued The following list comprises the specializations inherent in true HTPCs: Video enhancements Specialized audio
Special chassis TV tuner requirement i. Video enhancements High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) offer high def. audio and high def. video and therefore a logical choice Graphic adapters with one of more HDMI interfaces Monitor should be state of the art too ii. Specialized audio HDMI is capable of 8-channel 7.1 surround sound ideal for
home theater High end digital audio should be near the top end of the wish list Minimum should be 7.1 analog surround sound (six 3.5mm stereo mini jacks) PS: stereo mini jacks are the ones you find on a standard headphone set iii. Special chassis / iv. TV Tuner HTPCs have their own specialized computer case form factor (case design)
These should blend well with other home appliances such as DVRs, DVD players etc Typically black, sit horizontal like desktop computers and have touch screen interfaces HTPC features.. Typical dimension 17x17x7 Motherboard typically mini-ITX with integrated HDMI Blu-ray drive, PCIe or USB TV Tuner card, HDD or SSD (large storage)
RAM for mini-ITX, SODIMMs for prebuilt models 6. Thin Clients A thin client is any machine that divests itself of all or most local storage and varying levels of RAM and processing power without necessarily giving up all ability to process instructions and data. It resembles but is not a dumb terminal (which only displays output to the monitor and relays input from keyboard and mouse to the server) Thin clients feature a true network connection but have low processing power and storage, meaning the server must have increased capacities. This unfortunately leads to one central point of
failure Thin Clients continued.. Their Operating Systems can be simple and designed specifically for thin clients For example Thinstation, Windows Embedded Standard (WE7) and Lenovo Terminal Operating System (LeTOS) Thin clients can feature flash-based storage and small form factor RAM which distinguish them from Thick clients
7. Home Server PCs Home server PCs are essentially powerful client systems with a standard, non-server OS. These have many features of a server but dont necessarily have server Operating System and are thus capable of allowing other clients to have limited access, but not enough access to accommodate a large number of users. Home Server PCs continued.. Fault tolerance should be considered. PS: Fault tolerance seeks to retain accessibility during the
failure while redundancy simply ensures recoverability after the failure. For example having run-flat tires allows you to continue to drive even when a puncture occurs (Fault Tolerance). Redundancy means having more of what you need for example a spare tire in case you get a flat Home Server PC enhancement features:
Media streaming capabilities File sharing services Print sharing services Gigabit NIC RAID array i. Media streaming capabilities Home server PCs stream music, photos, and videos to other devices including those that are not PCs.
Windows 7 and newer allow media streaming services In Windows 7, Microsoft introduced HomeGroups (password protected) similar to WorkGroups but with a smaller scope and security requirements HomeGroups can share files and devices such as printers Exercise 5.1 shows how to enable media streaming ii. File and Print sharing Streaming occurs in one direction from the server and does not affect the clients file system. But file sharing can go in both directions, and it adds to the clients file
system during downloads. The server acts as a repository for uploaded files that can then be downloaded from any other machine in the home network. Difference between Enterprise servers and Home servers is that all systems in the home have equal access to files and printers while enterprise servers have permission level access to the data store that allow or restrict access to users iii. Gigabit NIC Home server should be hard wired to a switch or wireless access point
The NIC (Network Interface Card) should be capable of Gigabit speeds Running client NICs at gigabit speeds should be avoided, even though the capability is ubiquitous. Running all devices on the network at gigabit speeds guarantees that each device that is attached will attempt to saturate the servers gigabit interface with its own traffic. iv. RAID Array Because some of the data stored on a home server represents
the only copy, it must be protected from accidental loss Large storage capacity is desirable Fault tolerance is advised Hardware RAID relieves the server from managing the array It should include hot-swappable drives so that it can be rebuilt on the fly while still servicing client requests during the loss of a single drive.
Custom Configuration Enhancements Summary Graphics, CAD/CAM A/V editing Virtualiza tion Gaming
PCs Home Theater PCs Thin Clients Home Server PCs
CPU Specialized CPU CPU Specialized ** enhanceme Audio enhanceme enhanceme Audio nts nts nts Media Streaming Capabilitie
s Video Enhancem ents Video Enhancem ents File and Print sharing
services Maximized RAM Specialized HDD Maximized RAM Video Enhancem
ents Video Enhancem ents Specialized Special Audio Chasis Gigabit NIC
Enhanced Cooling RAID Array TV Tuner
