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Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Information Technology

Component Evaluation and System Specification

IT301 · Computer Systems — Week 10 of 16

CourseIT301
Week10 of 16
SemesterI
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This week’s topics

Component Evaluation and System Specification

  1. Performance benchmarking and bottlenecks
  2. Hardware-to-software compatibility
  3. Budgeting, longevity, and upgrade pathways
  4. Form factor, thermal, and power considerations
  5. Motherboard Compatibility - CompTIA A+ 220-1201 - 3.5
  6. Understanding Computer Configuration: Types and Examples

What you will be able to do

  • 3.3 Evaluate suitable components to meet user requirements within a professional environment.

Activity

Start with this week’s 3 videos, then: Seminar, guided reading and a short written task: evaluate suitable components to meet user requirements within a professional environment.

Study materials

Videos

  • Motherboard Compatibility - CompTIA A+ 220-1201 - 3.5 · YouTube · Professor Messer · 3 min · for registered students
  • Understanding Computer Configuration: Types and Examples · YouTube · Computer Techniques Hub · 8 min · for registered students

Further resources

  • Computer specifications (slides) · Reading · Oak, slides · for registered students
  • Workplace Software and Skills, 1.2: How Computers Work · PDF · OpenStax, textbook chapter; pp. 28–29 · for registered students
  • Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective, 1.5–1.6: Caches and storage hierarchy · PDF · Textbook, textbook chapter; pp. 9–11 · for registered students
Materials marked “for registered students” open in the student portal, which is set up as soon as you receive final acceptance.
Week 9Week 11
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Admitted students ask questions on this week’s page in the student portal: an AI assistant trained on the course answers first, and during the course’s timetabled classes Connect to your tutor brings your tutor into the chat, who may start a call if needed.

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Course plan
  • Week 1: Introduction to Computer Systems
  • Week 2: Computer Systems in Diverse Environments
  • Week 3: Internal Hardware Components
  • Week 4: Secondary Storage and Peripheral Devices
  • Week 5: Computer Software Components
  • Week 6: Open Source and Closed Source Software
  • Week 7: Operating Systems in Professional Environments
  • Midterm: Midterm evaluation
  • Week 9: User Styles and Requirement Profiling
  • Week 10: Component Evaluation and System Specification
  • Week 11: System Configuration and Deployment
  • Week 12: Applying Computer Systems in practice: case studies
  • Week 13: Assignment workshop: research, planning and referencing
  • Week 14: Assignment workshop: drafting, feedback and improvement
  • Week 15: Review and coursework completion
  • Final: Final assessment and submission
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