Chapter 3 In-Class Lab Assignment

Chapter 3 In-Class Lab Assignment

Chapter 3 In Class Lab Assignment

CIT 1100

In this lab you will be using copies of shareware to run tests on your system. Shareware can be downloaded from the Internet at no cost and used to run various tests on your systems hardware.

Before starting this lab Turn on your system to be certain that it works properly, when finished shut it down using the proper shutdown procedures for the operating system you are using. (Click on Start  Turn Off Computer)

Since Sandra is shareware some of the programs mentioned in this lab may not work. If that’s the case mark those areas as d.n.a. (does not apply)

  1. Locate the file called Sandra stored in the directory you created in Lab One, double click on the Sandra Icon and complete the installation. Accept all the defaults and load the application. When you have completed the installation there will be a new Icon installed on your desktop. To start Sandra, click on the icon.
  2. When the application opens, click on the Hardware Tab - Some of the modules listed are not available with the shareware release we are using, they are displayed as grayed outtry to click on Plug & Play as an example. A full version can be purchased from Sisoftware for $39.00.
  3. As you open various modules you may see “Custom Rank Engines” pop up, ignore this and close the window.
  4. Click on the Benchmarks Tab – This feature compares your processor configuration against 4 other processors. Click on the Processor Arithmeticmodule. On the bottom of the Processor Arithmetic screen is a blue double arrow used to start the process. Click on the Icon and start the CPU benchmark test, it takes a few minutes to initialize. When completed the test will display Dhrystone* as a number of GIPS (Billions of Instructions Per Second) the higher the better.*Dhrystone is a test used to compare CPU performance, somewhat like comparing Miles per Gallon on different cars. There are (4) reference processors you can compare your current system against. The processor in your system is displayed in RED labeled “Current Processor”, is compared to 4 other processors each color coded. Select the “Components Chart” tab, the highest values are in the upper right corner of the display screen.(note enlarge the screen to make the details easier to read)

Your system rating ______GIPS Dhrystones (displayed in lower screen)

What is the rating of the following: (Use the drop down button to select the various different processors) Wait for the test to cycle through the various tests and watch for the display the measures GIPS on the upper graph.

a)Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 ______GIPS

b)AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ ______GIPS

c)AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+_____ GIPS

d)Intel Pentium D 840 _____ GIPS

*GIP is how many Billion instructions /sec the cpu can perform

Click on the Performance vs. Power tab to see how much power (in watts) your processor uses as compared to the other reference processors listed.

After running any of the Benchmarks scroll to the bottom of the screen to see a listing of suggested Performance Tips. Some tips give suggested changes you can make to improve system performance.

Close the ProcessorArithmetic Screen.

  1. Use the various tests under the Hardware tab to answer the following:
  2. Computer Overview
  3. Host Name______
  4. Processor Model______
  5. Internal cache______
  6. Layer 2 Cache______
  7. System BIOS______
  8. Mainboard (motherboard)______
  9. Size of the C: Drive______
  10. Operating System ______
  11. Processors
  12. Speed of CPU ______
  13. Model Number______
  14. Physical Disks
  15. Capacity of Hard Drive______

Close the Computer Overview screen.

  1. Click on the Mainboard module to start the application, scroll to the bottom of the screen and list any PerformanceTips. Double click on any listed tip to get more information.

How many suggestions are made to improve system performance? ______

Close the Mainboard Module

  1. Locate and click on Mainboard Configuration. After the system analyzes itself select System BIOS in the Device drop down. Answer the following questions about your system.
  2. Can the BIOS be Updated/Flashed? ______
  3. Can the BIOS be Shadowed?______
  4. Is the BIOS Chip socketed?______
  5. Does it support Plug & Play?______
  6. Does it support ESCD?______
  7. Does it allow selective booting?______
  8. Will it allow booting from a CD?______

Are there any suggested performance enhancement tips listed at the bottom of the screen? ______

List some of thePerformancetips reported under the Mainboard Configuration module.

______

Close the MainboardConfiguration.

  1. Under the Software tab click on Operating System. Answer the following questions about your system.
  2. What version of the operating system is running?______
  3. What is the product key?______
  4. How long has your system been running? ______
  5. Were any performance tips listed?______

Close the OperatingSystem.

  1. Click on Modules and answer the following:

a)How much memory is currently being used by the application you are currently running (Sandra)? ______ (Advanced, note that you can select different processes to monitor from the drop down screen)

b)What version of Sandra is running on the system? ______

c)Who manufactured Sandra?______

Close the Modules.screen.

  1. Click on Logical Drivesandanswer the following:
  2. What is the size of the C: Drive? _____ GB
  3. What percent of the drive is unused? ______
  4. What file system is being used? ______
  5. What is the maximum filename length? ______
  6. How many sectors per cluster? ______
  7. How many Bytes per sector? ______
  8. What is the cluster size? ______

Close the LogicalDrives.

  1. Click on Memory Usageand answer the following:
  2. How much total memory is reported on the system? ______
  3. How much memory is Free (unused)? ______

Close the Memory Usage.

  1. Click on the Tools Tab, locate and click on Analysis and Advice, click on the green arrow to start the process and select, “ Make Choices andgenerate report”, (next), (next) “display on screen” (next), then click the green checkmark to begin. After the system finishes analyzing each section, it makes suggestions where appropriate, are there any suggestions made to improve your system? If so list a few that you feel could reasonably be accomplished.______
  2. How could you use SANDRA to improve your system?______

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