Computing - Factors affecting CPU performance
What happens when a CPU has multiple cores?
- A CPU which has multiple cores (e.g. dual core) increases its performance. - Dual-core processors has two processing components.
What is the order of speeds/capacity for storage in computer?
- CPU Register (smallest capacity, highest speed) - Level 1 cache - Level 2 cache - Physical RAM (Main memory) - Disc Storage (Virtual RAM, Hard drive) (highest capacity, lowest speed)
What type of memory do CPU's use?
- CPU's use extremely high-speed memory known as cache. - Frequently used instructions or data can be stored in the cache temporarily.
What is cache memory?
- Cache memory is a middle zone between the RAM and the CPU. - Cache memory makes instructions frequently used by the CPU available much quicker.
What are the factors affecting a CPU's performance?
- Clock Speed (GHz) - Type of Memory (Cache) - Number of cores (Dual core, Quad core)
What are cores within a CPU?
- Cores within processors have the processing components needed for the CPU
How does cache memory benefit the CPU?
- It allows frequently used data to be available much quicker for the CPU. - This means that it doesn't have to access the main memory meaning shorter time to access data, so performance increases.
What are the different levels of cache?
- Level 1 cache = extremely fast but small. It is used to hold instructions, thus speeding up the Fetch - Execute Cycle. - Level 2 cache = fairly fast and medium sized. It is used to hold data. - Some CPU's hold 3 levels of cache.
How does clock speed benefit the CPU?
- The faster it vibrates, the faster instructions are processed. - Faster clock speed means that more programs instructions are processed per second.
Why does the act of having more cores within a CPU increase the performance?
- The more cores means that more instructions in one program or multiple program can be processed.
What is clock speed?
- The speed at which a processor operates. - It's measured in Hertz (number of electrical cycles per second) - The CPU out one program instruction per clock cycle
- The more cache memory =
The more data can be stored within the fast storage, allowing quicker times between the data and the CPU. This overall improves performance.
