HARDWARE&

SOFTWARE

DANIELA POPESCU

HNDCSD Level 4Batch 2

Computer Systems

UPGRADE process of increasing the

system’s performance and be up to date with new

technologies on minimum costs

Why UPGRADING ?

Security • Protection against threats: viruses, theft,

hackers, natural disasters• Old software are much more vulnerable Productivity & Efficiency• More tasks in less time• More quality Decrease costs• Upgrading a hardware/software component

means less costs than replacing the system

Tasks to be done BEFORE UPGRADING

• Uninstall unused programs, Remove temporary files, cookies etc

• Remove viruses, spyware, malware

• Defragmenting harddisk

UPGRADING HARDWARE

• RAM• HARD DRIVE• PROCESSOR• KEYBOARD• MOUSE• PRINTER

MORE RAM BETTER MULTI-TASKING

 2Gb

 

 Regular user (MOffice, Internet browsing) 

 3-4Gb 

 Power user (Multitasking) 

 >4Gb

Power user with a Virtual Machine or do heavy audio/video/image editing has to consider 64-bit version of

OS 32-bit cannot use more than

4Gb 

WHEN TO UPGRADE RAM?• when using more applications simultaneously

and the PC is slow

Smith’s firmRAM upgrading

Memory installed

Memory upgrade

Reason

Desktop PC’s

All-in-one

Server

4GB

4GB

12GB

6GB

6GB

16GB

• New software in HR department

• Upgrading the programs for editing image/video

• Growing the business, bigger number of computers

HARD DRIVE

Faster hard drive means faster PC

Faster spin means faster data read and write

SSD (solid state drive) is faster

Adding a new hard drive instead of replacing the older one

Smith’s firmHDD upgrading

HDD installed

New HDD added

Desktop PC’s

All-in-one

Server

500GB

1TB

2TB

500GB

N/A

N/A

PROCESSORFaster CPU means faster PC

Replacing is difficult, approach with caution

Number of cores and speed, compatibility with motherboard

After replacing CPU it need to run a hardware identification utility like Sandra, CPU-Z – check if CPU runs at its correct clock rate

Before replacing CPU is important to upgrade BIOS – motherboard will recognize the CPU

Smith’s firmCPU upgrading

CPU installed

New CPU

Desktop PC’s

All-in-one

Server

Intel® Core™ i3 3.4GHz dual core

Intel® Core™ i5 3.1GHz Quad Core

3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Quad core

Intel® Core™ i5 3.1GHz Quad Core

No need

No need

BIOS UPGRADE is necessary to update the system to accept a new hardware part or to fix a bug

Here is the BIOS Version

SOFTWARE UPGRADE or UPDATE

Reasons:

Old programs are not compatible with newer hardware components

New programs have more and improved features and capabilities

Best technical and professional support thanks to the skilled resources available for newer versions

Update is a free program:

• fixes issues with the software

• adds more hardware support

Upgrades are not free:

• add additional features to your

software product

UPDATE vs. UPGRADE

Operating System

Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit x/SP1 – all PCs

Windows 8 for All-in-one

Windows Server 2011 Premium - server Windows Server 2012

Database Microsoft SQL Server 2013 Update Account Sage Instant Accounts 2013 UpdateAntivirus Bitdefender Total Security 2013 – Desktop

PCs

Upgrade 2014

Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 - 3 User – will allow upgrade to 2014 edition – All-in-one

Upgrade 2014

Esset Smart Security 5 - server UpgradeOffice software

Microsoft Office 2010 MOLP UpdateAdobe Acrobat XI PRO Update

Law software

Amicus Attorney Small Firm Classic Edition UpdateExpress Dictate Digital Dictation Software Update

Backup software

Redo Backup and RecoveryFBackup

Upgrade

Audio/video editing software

Corel VideoStudio Pro X6

Updates & Upgrade some

VideoPad Video Editor Prism Video ConverterDebut Video CaptureExpress Burn Disc BurningWavePad Audio EditingMixPad Multitrack RecordingSwitch MP3 Converter

Presentation PhotoStage SlideshowVideo conference

RealPresence Cloud AXIS Suite

File Archiver Express Zip File CompressionIP surveillance software

D-ViewCam Standard Video Management Software (VMS)