For Years 7–8: what a computer's specifications measure (processor, RAM, storage, network, graphics), how each one affects how fast a job runs, finding the bottleneck, and choosing hardware for a job within a budget.
What each specification measures, which one slows a job down, and how to choose hardware for a job.
A spec sheet lists a computer's parts and how much of each it has: processor cores and speed, RAM, storage size and type, network bandwidth and graphics. Each one measures something different, on a phone, a laptop or a server.
A job is only as fast as its slowest part, the bottleneck. Run jobs on an old laptop, see how long each part takes, and upgrade the part that matters: more RAM for many tabs, an SSD for loading, a faster network for downloads, a graphics card for AI.
Choosing hardware starts from the job, not the biggest numbers: work out what the job needs most, compare the options on that, weigh the trade-offs, and spend the budget where the bottleneck is.
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For teachers: Teacher guide (notes, answers, solutions, slides and worksheets)