Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 11

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Identify factors that impact system performance.
• Use system monitoring tools to find bottlenecks.
• Apply troubleshooting techniques to solve problems.
• Understand and implement preventative maintenance.
• Describe the impact of malware and how to prevent it.

Lesson summary

This week, we delve into understanding how to maintain and optimise the performance of computer systems, and how to effectively troubleshoot problems when they arise. In South Africa, access to reliable and efficient technology is crucial for education, business, and connecting with the world. Whether you're using a computer to complete school assignments, running a small business, or simply staying in touch with family, understanding how to keep your system running smoothly is an invaluable skill. Imagine trying to submit a crucial assignment the night before the deadline only to find your computer is running incredibly slowly or has a virus.

Lesson notes

Factors Affecting System Performance: Several factors contribute to a computer's overall performance. Understanding these factors is the first step in identifying and resolving performance issues.

CPU (Central Processing Unit): The CPU is the brain of the computer. A slow or overloaded CPU will bottleneck performance.

Explanation:* The CPU performs all the calculations and instructions. If it's constantly working at or near 100% capacity, everything will slow down.

Why:* The CPU has limited processing power. Too many programs or complex calculations overwhelm it.

How:* Use Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (macOS) to monitor CPU usage. Close unnecessary programs. Consider upgrading the CPU if it's consistently overloaded.

RAM (Random Access Memory): RAM is temporary storage for data that the CPU needs to access quickly.

Explanation:* When RAM is full, the computer starts using the hard drive as "virtual memory," which is much slower.

Why:* Insufficient RAM forces the system to swap data between RAM and the hard drive, creating a slowdown.

How:* Check RAM usage in Task Manager/Activity Monitor. Close unnecessary applications. Upgrade RAM if usage is consistently high.

Hard Drive/SSD: The storage device where the operating system, applications, and data are stored.

Explanation:* A slow hard drive or a fragmented file system will slow down access to data.

Why:* Hard drives have physical moving parts that take time to access data. Fragmentation scatters files across the drive, increasing access time.

How:* Defragment the hard drive regularly (not necessary for SSDs). Run disk cleanup tools. Consider upgrading to an SSD for significantly faster performance.

Graphics Card (GPU): The GPU handles the processing of visual information.

Explanation:* An inadequate GPU can cause lag and slow performance, especially in graphics-intensive applications like games or video editing software.

Why:* Rendering complex graphics requires significant processing power.

How:* Check GPU usage during demanding tasks. Update graphics drivers. Consider upgrading the GPU if necessary.

Operating System: The operating system manages all hardware and software resources.

Explanation:* An outdated or corrupted operating system can lead to performance issues.

Why:* Operating systems contain bug fixes and performance improvements. Outdated systems may be vulnerable to malware and inefficiencies.

How:* Keep the operating system up-to-date with the latest patches and updates.

Malware: Malicious software can consume system resources and interfere with normal operations.

Explanation:* Viruses, spyware, and other malware can run in the background, slowing down the system and potentially compromising data.

Why:* Malware often consumes CPU and RAM resources.

How:* Install and regularly update antivirus software. Run frequent scans for malware. Be careful about opening suspicious emails or downloading files from unknown sources.

System Monitoring Tools: These tools allow you to observe how your system is performing.

Task Manager (Windows): Provides real-time information about CPU usage, RAM usage, disk activity, and network activity.

Activity Monitor (macOS): Similar to Task Manager, offering detailed information about system performance.

Resource Monitor (Windows): A more advanced tool than Task Manager, providing detailed information about CPU, memory, disk, and network usage, including which processes are using the resources.

Troubleshooting Techniques: Identify the Problem: Clearly define the problem. What is happening? When did it start? What were you doing when the problem occurred?

Reboot the System: A simple reboot can often resolve temporary glitches.

Check Resource Usage: Use Task Manager/Activity Monitor to identify processes that are consuming excessive resources.

Update Drivers: Outdated drivers can cause compatibility issues and performance problems.

Run Antivirus Scan: Check for malware.

Check Disk Space: A full hard drive can slow down performance.

Uninstall Unnecessary Programs: Remove programs you no longer use.

Defragment Hard Drive (HDDs Only): Improve disk access speed.

System Restore: Revert the system to a previous state before the problem occurred.

Search Online: Use search engines to find solutions to specific problems.

Worked example

Example 1: Slow Application Loading

Scenario: You are a Grade 11 student using a computer at home in Cape Town. You notice that Microsoft Word takes a very long time to open.

Troubleshooting Steps:

Identify the Problem: Microsoft Word is slow to open.

Check Resource Usage: Open Task Manager. Observe CPU and RAM usage while launching Word.

If CPU usage spikes to 100%, it suggests the CPU may be struggling.

If RAM usage is consistently high (e.g., above 80%), it suggests a RAM shortage.

Close Unnecessary Programs: If either CPU or RAM is high, close other applications to free up resources. Re-launch Word.

Check Hard Drive Space: Ensure sufficient free disk space.

Run Disk Cleanup: Remove temporary files.

Run Antivirus Scan: Check for malware that might be consuming resources.

Update Microsoft Office: An outdated version might have performance issues.

Reinstall Microsoft Office: If all else fails, reinstalling the application can resolve corrupted files.

Example 2: Slow Internet Speed