i need a recommendation report about any thing that is related to mechanical engineering.

By: Jane Z. Student

Oct 7th 3013

EGR 3350:03

Introduction

Purpose

The purpose of this report is to recommend a laptop to a computer science student for heavy computing tasks.

Problem

Computer scientists are assigned tasks which require a lot of computing. These tasks, which are executed through computer programs, often are time consuming and resource expensive. Computer programs often require other programs that are packaged in a library of code in order to execute specific tasks. These libraries have to be sought out and downloaded for programs to run. To prevent reinstallation of these libraries, computer scientists need a mobile development area which has the resources required to execute the programs and complete the tasks.

Scope

The Asus X502CA-BI30705B and Toshiba C55DA5346 are two laptops with slightly different specifications that are stocked at BestBuy. To recommend a laptop, the following specs have to be compared: cpu, memory, hard drive, price, and size.

Discussion

Cpu

Explanation

The cpu acts as the brain of a computer. The faster the cpu, the more calculations can be performed each second. 1 GHz of cpu speed roughly equates to 1 billion cpu cycles per second. Having a faster cpu allows for more instructions to be executed per second and as a result, reduces the execution time of programs. This is vital for executing computationally expensive tasks.

Data

Interpretation

With a 1.8GHz processor, the i3 runs through 300 million more cycles than the AMD. This gives the Asus a minor speed advantage over the Toshiba.

Memory

Explanation

The memory of a computer acts as a limit to how much a computer can do at once. When programs are executed, an instance of the program, called a process, is loaded into memory. The more memory a computer has, the more processes it can run simultaneously.

Data

The Asus has 4GB of memory. The Toshiba has 4GB of memory as well [1].

Interpretation

Both laptops ended up having the same amount of memory so they performed equally in this category.

Hard Drive

Explanation

The hard drive is a storage device that hosts the file system of a computer. The larger a hard drive, the more information can be stored. Hard drives are categorized by how fast they spin. The faster a drive spins, the faster information can be read and written.

Data

The Asus has 500GB that spins at 5400 rpm. The Toshiba has 750GB that spin at 5400 rpm [1].

Interpretation

Both drives spin at the same speed, but the Toshiba has an additional 250GB of disk space compared to the Asus. An additional 250GB is a lot of storage space which can be used for data generated by programs, however it doesn't help much on increasing performance in heavy computing tasks.

Price

Explanation

The price is an important factor in any buying decision. The more expensive an item is, the bigger a benefit is to be expected from it.

Data

The Asus is $349.99 and the Toshiba is $424.99 [1].

Interpretation

The Toshiba is $80.00 more than the Asus where the only benefit is a 250GB larger hard drive.

Size

Explanation

For portability reasons, the size of the laptop should be as small as possible. Lighter laptops are easier to carry, and smaller laptops require less space to use.

Data

The Asus is 15.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.9'' at 4.4 pounds. The Toshiba is 15.0'' x 9.5'' x 1.3'' at 5.3 pounds [1]. Multiplying these dimensions, the Asus is 138.6'' squared and the Toshiba is 185.25'' squared.

Interpretation

The Asus is ~43'' squared smaller than the Toshiba and weighs 0.9 pounds less so it is more portable.

Conclusion

Summary

The Asus and Toshiba laptops were compared on cpu, memory, hard drive, price, and size. The Asus performed better with cpu, price, and size. The Toshiba performed better with hard drive space. Both laptops had the same memory specifications. Table 1 shows a comparison of all the specs for each laptop.

Table 1: Comparison of Asus and Toshiba

Conclusions

The Asus X502CA-BI30705B is the preferred laptop based on cpu speed, price, and size. The Toshiba C55DA5346 had more disk space, but its slower cpu will not be as beneficial to perform tasks that require heavy computing.

Recommendation

The Asus is recommended as the laptop to buy to perform tasks that require a lot of computing.

Contact

For more information, contact Jane Z. Student at [email protected]

Work Cited

[1] "Best Buy: Making Technology Work for You." Best Buy: Making Technology Work for You. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2013. <http://www.bestbuy.com/>.

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