CIS 293 Wk 1 Discussion – Upgrade Decisions

Post a total of 3 substantive responses over 2 separate days for full participation. This includes your initial post and 2 replies to other students.

Due Thursday

Upgrading an existing system can sometimes be a wise thing to do, but sometimes the upgrade costs more than the system is worth. Also, if existing components are old, they might not be compatible with components you want to use for the upgrade. A friend has asked for your advice about several upgrades he is considering. Research your friend’s request.

Share your research with the class, and discuss the following in a minimum of 175 words:

• Your friend Bob has a four-year-old desktop computer that has an out-of-date processor and 2 GB of memory. It does not have an eSATA port. Bob wants to use an external hard drive that has an eSATA interface to the computer to back up and store entertainment media. How would you suggest that he performs the upgrade, and what is the cost?
• The computer has one USB port, but Bob wants to use a USB printer at the same time he uses the USB scanner. How can this be done, and how much will it cost?
• Bob uses a Windows® 8 computer for gaming and wants to get a better gaming experience. The computer is using onboard video and has an empty PCI Express video slot. What is the fastest and best graphics card that can be used? How much does it cost?
• What is the total cost of all the upgrades Bob wants? Do you think it is wise for him to make these upgrades or would it be wiser to purchase a new system? How would you explain your recommendation to Bob?

Due Monday

Post 2 replies to classmates or your faculty member. Be constructive and professional.