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Microprocessor Performance: John P CINS 106 April 29, 2010

The document discusses key factors that affect microprocessor performance, including clock speed, number of transistors, cache memory, and data width. It explains that clock speed determines how many instructions can be executed per cycle, while more transistors allow for faster speeds and pipelining. Cache memory stores frequently used data and instructions closer to the processor for faster access. Comparing these specifications between processor models can help determine the best processor for one's needs.

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27 views3 pages

Microprocessor Performance: John P CINS 106 April 29, 2010

The document discusses key factors that affect microprocessor performance, including clock speed, number of transistors, cache memory, and data width. It explains that clock speed determines how many instructions can be executed per cycle, while more transistors allow for faster speeds and pipelining. Cache memory stores frequently used data and instructions closer to the processor for faster access. Comparing these specifications between processor models can help determine the best processor for one's needs.

Uploaded by

killdozerr
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Microprocessor Performance

John P CINS 106 April 29, 2010

A microprocessor is a very important part of the computer, it is the brain of the system, keeping the information input and output flowing back and forth. Also known as a CPU, it is a computation engine that is fabricated on a single chip smaller than a penny. For CPU performances, we are mostly concerned about the clock speed, transistors, cache, and data width. The clock speed is the maximum rate that the chip can be clocked at, this is the speed at which the microprocessor executes instructions. Computers contain internal clocks that regulate the rate instructions are executed and it synchronizes all the computers components. The microprocessor requires a fixed number of clock cycles to execute each instruction. Faster clock speeds mean more instructions are executed in the same amount of time. Just because a new processor has the same clock speed as an old processor doesnt mean that they will process information at the same speed, as microprocessors internal architecture has as much to do with CPU performance as the clock speed does. A old processor might take 20 cycles to multiply numbers, when new processors can do the same multiplication in one cycle. The number of transistors has a gigantic effect on processor performances. Extra transistors allow for faster speeds and also pipelining. Pipelined architecture allows for execution overlaps, so multiple cycle processes can still be done in one cycle because they will work on more you will process more then one cycle at a time. So it would still look as though your computer only worked on one instruction per cycle. Modern processors have multiple instruction decoders with their own pipelines, which allows for multiple instruction streams. Caching is another processor performance tool. It is basically memory the processors very own stick of ram that only holds the items that it uses the most. An example of how caching works is a high school student (processor) with a backpack (cache) and a locker (ram). The student carries around his math book because he has that class every day, on Tuesday he has to go to english class then math class, so when he arrives at school, first he will check his backpack for his english book. Since it is not there, now he has to go to his locker first to get the book, after class he checks his backpack for his math book and puts his english book inside. The book is in his backpack so now he goes directly to class instead of making another trip to his locker. Cache just attempts to remove steps that are not needed, unless the item it is looking for is not in the cache, which makes the process slower. There are three levels of cache L1 and L2 are built directly into the processor, and the L3 is built onto the motherboard. The RAM in a computer is accessed by the microprocessor, this takes about sixty nanoseconds, which is sixty billionths of a second. This is fast, but not compared to processors which can cycle at two nanoseconds. The data width is the width of the ALU (arithmetic-logic unit). ALUs power is measured in bits. An 8-bit ALU takes four instructions to be able to execute a 32-bit number. The standard width for a while has been 32-bits, newer computers are starting to convert to 64-bit processors now instead and operating systems are starting to be available in 64-bit versions. Another thing I have not yet mentioned is multiple core processors. A processor with multiple cores is basically like having as many processors as you have cores in the processor. They may share caches, implement message passing and shared memory inter-core communication methods. They are connected physically by an integrated circuit and are connected mentally with a network topology. They use parallel processing similar to pipelining. Games are starting to enter multi-core support to enhance the power of games. Processors affect everything that we do on computers, and they are a very important stepping stone for the technology of computer processing. In conclusion, when searching for a processor, make sure to compare the clock speed, transistor amount, cache, and data width with other models on the market as well as price and the amount of cores to try to find the perfect processor for what you plan on using your computer for.

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/microprocessor.htm - microprocessor information Marshall Brain http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/clock_speed.html - clock speeds - dec 17, 2003 http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cache3.htm - Caches - Guy Provost http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid80_gci1015740,00.html multi-core processors

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