Computer Performance

Computer Performance

1. RAM

   • Stores the programs, parts of the operating system and the files currently being used.
   • RAM is volatile, meaning that the data is not stored when the computer system is switched off.
   • How
     • The greater the amount of RAM, the more instructions and data that can be stored while a program is running. This means that less instructions will be stored in the much slower virtual memory and will therefore improve the performance of the computer.
   • What
     • RAM is volatile storage
     • RAM stores instructions and data while a program is running.

2. Cores

   • Dual core: 2 independent processors in the CPU working simultaneously.
   • Quad core: 4 independent processors in the CPU working
   • What?
     • Cores run the fetch, decode, execute cycle simultaneously.
     • Cores are independent processors in the CPU.
   • How?
     • If there are more cores, the CPU will execute more instructions every second meaning the computer will work faster with a better performance.

3. Cache

   • Cache is a small amount of memory which is a part of the CPU - closer to the CPU than RAM . It is used to temporarily hold instructions and data that the CPU is likely to reuse.
   • The CPU cache SRAM is a lot faster than the DRAM
     • This is because the SRAM does not need to be refreshed all the time which means it can run faster as it is not wasting time with refreshing itself.
   • What
     • Cache memory stores more frequently-used storage.
     • Cache memory is faster and more expensive than RAM.
     • Cache memory is a small amount of memory that is either inside the CPU or closer to the CPU than RAM.
   • How
     • If there is a large amount of cache memory storage, a greater number of frequently-used instructions can be stored. This means that more instructions can be accessed quickly, which will improve the performance of the computer.

4. Clock Speed

   • The number of fetch decode execute cycles a CPU can perform per second. This is measured in hertz (Hz).
   • For example, 1Hz is one cycle per a second and 1KHz is 1000 (thousand) cycles per a second and 1MHz is 1,000,000 (million) cycles per second and 1GHz is 1,000,000,000 (billion) cycles per second.
   • The higher the clock speed the quicker and better quality it will have.
     • This is because the higher the clock speed is more cycles can be done per a second giving your device faster and better quality.
   • What
     • The clock speed of the CPU is the amount of fetch, decode, execute cycles that cam be ran every second.
     • Clock speed is measured in hertz (Hz)
   • How
     • The higher the clock speed, the more instructions can be executed per a second so the performance of the computer will be improved.