This subtopic is pure application — given a described user and their needs, you must motivate a complete, justified hardware recommendation, including for mobile/portable scenarios.
A strong hardware recommendation answer follows this structure for every component:
Example
Scenario: 'A graphic designer needs a new computer for photo editing and wants to work from client sites occasionally.' Recommendation: A laptop (not desktop) — because the scenario specifically requires portability for client visits. Recommend a high-resolution display and a dedicated/discrete graphics card — because photo editing is visually and processor-intensive and benefits from accurate colour and GPU acceleration. Recommend an SSD — because large image files need to load and save quickly, and reliability matters for professional client work.
For a computer-based solution to a broader business/user problem, motivate the full system (not just hardware) in terms of what the specified user actually needs to accomplish — considering budget, scale, and expected growth, not only raw performance.
Mobile technologies and their constraints — a mobile device recommendation must explicitly weigh trade-offs that don't apply to a desktop:
| Constraint | Trade-off to discuss |
|---|---|
| Battery life | More powerful components generally drain the battery faster; there's a balance between performance and how long the device lasts between charges |
| Size | Smaller devices are more portable but have less room for cooling, bigger batteries, or high-end components |
| Computing power | Mobile chips are generally less powerful than desktop equivalents to manage heat and power draw |
| Power consumption | Related to 11.2.6 (network/connectivity considerations) — always-on connectivity (Wi-Fi, mobile data, GPS) further drains battery life |
💡 Exam Tip
Never recommend a component in isolation. Every recommendation must be tied back to a phrase or need explicitly stated in the scenario — markers award marks for the justification, not just the correct component name.