LU2 Hardware and Software
Computer Performance and Reliability:
The combination of components, devices, buses and ports all contribute to the overall performance of a computer.
Modular Design:
→ Modular Design is built into the computer.
→ Computer can be put together in pieces, with your requirements in mind, instead of consisting of a single unit in which all Hardware is fixed.
→ Smaller technologies i.e.(Laptops, Netbooks, Smartphones and Tablets) less Modular due to the parts being less replaceable.
→ Each hardware part is a separatable module and are connected via the Motherboard i.e.(RAM, PCI cards and hard drives are easily interchangeable if they are compatible with the motherboard).
Advantages:
. Repairs:
Repairs can be conducted more efficiently, as individual components can be replaced without needing to discard the entire device, leading to cost savings and reduced electronic waste. . Upgradability: Users can upgrade specific components, such as adding more RAM or replacing the hard drive with a larger capacity unit, enhancing the device's performance over time.
. Upgrades:
Users can easily enhance functionality by swapping out outdated parts for newer technology, ensuring longevity and relevance in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
. Flexibility:
Modular design allows for a variety of components to be added to the mother board depending on the user’s needs.
How to Improve Processor Speed:
Technique | Description |
Hyperthreading | → Was developed before it was possible to create separate cores on a single processor chip, by duplicating the registers on the chip. →This technology allows a single physical core to appear as two logical cores to the operating system, enabling better utilization of CPU resources and improved performance in multi-threaded applications. |
Multiprocessing | → Multiprocessing is having multiple CPUs, called cores, on a single CPU chip. By having multiple cores, multiple processes can be executed at the same time ( parallel processing). → Must be supported by the motherboard and the OS |
Processor Cache | → The speed of the processor is much faster than the speed of the RAM. → Cache memory stores blocks of program instructions and data that have been pre-fetched from RAM in the hope that these instructions or data will be needed next by the CPU. → L1 cache usually has the same speed as the CPU’S internal speed → L2 cache is slightly further away from the internal CPU circuits and is slightly larger than L1 cache, and usually slower access. → L3 is on near the CPU and has slower access than L1 and L2. → The CPU checks information first from L1, then L2, moving to L3 and the RAM. |
Register Size | →The Register size indicates how much information the processor can operate on at one time and how it moves data around internally within the chip. → Purpose of registers is to store the current instructions and it’s data → Made from SRAM (fast and expensive) → Registers in CPU can be 32 bits or 64 bits. → 32 bit CPU must process 64-bit numbers in two stages, while 64 bit CPU only needs one stage (improves performance) |
Bus Size | → The more signals sent at the same time along the data bus, the more data can be transmitted in a specific unit of time, the faster and wider the bus. |
Overclocking/Clock Multiplication | → The practice of making computer components run at speeds faster than designed by manipulating the frequencies at which the components are set to run. Done in two ways: . per component- The CPU operates faster than the system clock by changing its own clock multiplication factor. .The whole system- The system clock is increased affecting all components that detect the system clock and multiply by a factor → |