30 min read

Choosing and Justifying a Configuration

Worked specifications for a file server, an office desktop and a point-of-sale machine — and a method for writing justifications.

A Method for Any Scenario

1 Read the scenario and list what each computer must do, how many people use it, and anything special (running 24 hours, dusty environment, taking payments). 2 Choose each component — processor, RAM, storage, graphics, network, ports, peripherals, operating system and power protection. 3 Justify each choice by linking it to a need in the scenario. 4 Check the budget and say where you would save money or where spending more is worth it. 5 Present it as a table, then a short paragraph.

A strong justification has three parts: 1 The choice — "16 GB DDR5 RAM" 2 The link to the scenario — "because the accounts program, email and video calls run at the same time" 3 The benefit — "so the computer does not slow down by using virtual memory" You can also say why not a cheaper or more expensive option: "A dedicated graphics card is not needed because no design work is done on this PC, so the money is better spent on the server's UPS."

Weak vs strong justification

$Weak$	$Strong$
$"8 cores because it is fast."$	$"8 cores, because six staff open files at the same time and backups run overnight, so the server stays responsive."$
$"RAID 5 because it is good."$	$"RAID 5 across four 4 TB disks gives 12 TB of usable space and keeps the files available if one disk fails."$
$"A UPS for power."$	$"A 1500 VA UPS covers short power cuts and signals the server to shut down safely before the battery runs out."$

Practice

Which is the best justification for 32 GB of RAM in a design workstation?

A Method for Any Scenario

1 Read the scenario and list what each computer must do, how many people use it, and anything special (running 24 hours, dusty environment, taking payments). 2 Choose each component — processor, RAM, storage, graphics, network, ports, peripherals, operating system and power protection. 3 Justify each choice by linking it to a need in the scenario. 4 Check the budget and say where you would save money or where spending more is worth it. 5 Present it as a table, then a short paragraph.

1. The File Server

2. The Office Desktop

3. The Point-of-Sale Machine

Writing Your Justification

A strong justification has three parts: 1 The choice — "16 GB DDR5 RAM" 2 The link to the scenario — "because the accounts program, email and video calls run at the same time" 3 The benefit — "so the computer does not slow down by using virtual memory" You can also say why not a cheaper or more expensive option: "A dedicated graphics card is not needed because no design work is done on this PC, so the money is better spent on the server's UPS."

Weak vs strong justification

$Weak$	$Strong$
$"8 cores because it is fast."$	$"8 cores, because six staff open files at the same time and backups run overnight, so the server stays responsive."$
$"RAID 5 because it is good."$	$"RAID 5 across four 4 TB disks gives 12 TB of usable space and keeps the files available if one disk fails."$
$"A UPS for power."$	$"A 1500 VA UPS covers short power cuts and signals the server to shut down safely before the battery runs out."$

Practice

Which is the best justification for 32 GB of RAM in a design workstation?