1.1.2 CPU Performance​

The purpose of a processor is to process data (The FE cycle) and to execute instructions.

How common characteristics of CPU’s affect their performance:​

Clock speed​:

• Measures in Hertz (Hz)
• Typical speeds span across MHz and GHz
• %%A 1 GHz processor executes 1 billion instructions per second%%

Cache size​:

• Processors have a ‘cache’ (Memory), this is very fast and usually has a small amount of memory on the processor chip
• The cache acts as an intermediary between the processor and main memory
• Cache %%increases the processing speed%% as %%it is closer to the CPU than main memory%%
• As programs are executing, the cache holds frequently used instructions

Number of cores​:

• Each processor has a core where instructions are executed
• Each core ==executes instructions independently==
• Processors can be multi core/dual core/quad core/8 core
• %%Dual core may execute up to twice as many instructions per second%%

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Higher clock speed - More instructions executed per second

Larger cache size - Faster processing speed

More cores - More instructions executed per second

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