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9618 · 3.1

Computers and their components — practice questions

Practice and worked examples for 9618 Computers and their components. Short previews only — attempt the full question in MarkScheme against the official scheme.

Worked example 1

A student is playing a 3D computer game. Explain the role of the CPU, RAM, and the GPU (a specialised processor for graphics) in rendering a single frame of the game.

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  1. CPU: The CPU processes the game's logic, such as AI behaviour, physics calculations, and user input from the keyboard/mouse. It sends instructions and data about the game state (e.g., character positions) to the RAM and GPU. [1 mark]
  2. RAM: The RAM holds the current game level, character models, textures, and sound files that are needed for immediate access. The CPU fetches data from RAM, and the GPU also accesses textures and model data from RAM. [1 mark]
  3. GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): The CPU offloads the intensive task of rendering the 3D scene to the GPU. The GPU takes the scene data (vertices, textures) and performs millions of calculations to create the final 2D image (the frame) that is sent to the monitor. [1 mark]

Worked example 2

A media production company needs to purchase a new server for storing and editing large 4K video files. The budget is a key consideration. Justify a suitable storage solution, considering both SSD and HDD technologies.

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  1. Analysis of Need: The company requires both high capacity (for storing large 4K files) and high speed (for editing without lag). [1 mark]
  2. Proposed Solution: A hybrid storage solution is most suitable. A large-capacity HDD (e.g., 16TB) should be used for long-term archival of completed projects and raw footage, as it offers the lowest cost per terabyte. [1 mark]
  3. Justification: For active projects, a smaller but much faster NVMe SSD (e.g., 2TB) should be used as a 'working drive'. This allows editors to access and scrub through the 4K footage instantly, drastically improving workflow efficiency. The speed of the SSD is critical for performance, while the capacity of the HDD is critical for cost-effective storage. [1 mark]
  4. Conclusion: This hybrid approach balances the performance needs for editing (SSD) with the high-capacity, low-cost needs for archiving (HDD), providing the best overall solution within a reasonable budget. [1 mark]
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