When making decisions about the type of computing devices to install in schools, school and technology leaders must define the capacity of the devcies necesary for their purpose. This post sumarizes the factors that affect capacity.
Capacity is determined by several factors. In general, these factors dictate the rate at which a system can access, process, and display information. Devices must be evaluated relative to a particular need, and IT managers determine the capacity of systems by evaluating the following:
- Processing Speed: This is the speed at which a device processes information. Processing speed is captured in its clock cycle, which is measured in gigahertz (GHz). While this used to be a reliable proxy for a computer’s capacity to complete tasks, today, other factors—such as the number of cores running in parallel and the availability of cache—improve the capacity of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) to complete operations.
- Random Access Memory (RAM): The amount of RAM available to the processor has always been a vital factor in determining capacity. Because it is relatively inexpensive and easy to install, RAM upgrades are a common method of extending a computer’s lifespan. However, for some devices or specific purposes, increasing RAM will have little effect on perceived performance. For example, if a student uses a computer with 4 GB of RAM to access Google Workspace and performance is already adequate, doubling the RAM to 8 GB is unlikely to provide a noticeable improvement.
- Operating System (OS) Efficiency: The OS manages memory and other system resources; the rate at which it performs these tasks directly affects the user’s perception of performance. Over time, updates and changes can decrease OS efficiency. Additionally, excessive applications, web browser extensions, or “bloatware” can interfere with the system’s ability to run smoothly.
- Application Sophistication: Applications are the software used to manage and create information. Many are sold in different versions; for instance, schools can support various levels of video editing software ranging from simple, bundled tools to professional-grade suites. Professional-level software provides sophisticated functions, but it requires frequent hardware upgrades and significant effort to use at its full capacity.
- Network Data Rates: The speed at which a system sends and receives information on networks is increasingly a determinant of sufficiency. For many users, capacity is less about local processing and more about enabling interaction. Network access also expands the information capacity of our devices; we update software through the cloud and move photographs to network storage systems to free up local memory.