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Computer Systems

Computer Systems. Nat 4/5 Computing Science Types of Computer and Performance. Lesson Aims. By the end of this lesson: Pupils at Nat 4 level will be able to: Describe and use clock speed as an indicator of performance Pupils aiming for Nat 5 will be able to

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Computer Systems

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  1. Computer Systems Nat 4/5 Computing Science Types of Computer and Performance

  2. Lesson Aims By the end of this lesson: • Pupils at Nat 4 level will be able to: • Describe and use clock speed as an indicator of performance • Pupils aiming for Nat 5 will be able to • Describe the uses of embedded, smartphone, laptop, desktop and supercomputers. • Compare features of embedded, smartphone, laptop, desktop and mainframe computers: • Discuss the type and speed of processors

  3. Nat 4/5 Clock Speed • Clock speed is the simplest measure of performance • This is the amount of operations that the computer can perform in one second • Modern home CPU’s operate in the 2.4-3.2 GHz range • This means at least 2,400,000,000 instructions per second

  4. Nat 4/5 Speed isn't everything • Some processors have 2, four or six cores • 2,3,4,6, 8 or 16 cores are the usual options • This means that there are 2, 4 or 6 smaller processors built into a single processor. • Each core can work on a single instruction • The faster the processor the more heat they generate. So which is better? Dual core at 3.5Ghz or Quad core at 2.4Ghz?

  5. Nat 4/5 Sometimes power is key • Other processors might need a very low power usage • For example using in netbooks, mobile phones or other portable devices.

  6. Nat 4/5 Apples and Oranges • When comparing performance it helps if the processors are of similar type etc. • For example you cannot compare the clock speed of a Dual Core processor to that of a Quad core processor. • The fastest supercomputer only has a clock speed of 1.6 Ghz (but it does have1,572,864 of them!) • 1.6 Pb of RAM might help too!

  7. Nat 4/5 Types of Computer • As technology improves the types of computer produced change. • Social factors also change types of popular computers • For example laptop sales in the last few years have surpassed desktops. • There are an increase in smart phones • And almost every piece of equipment will have a computer ‘embedded’ inside it

  8. Nat 4/5 Different Types of Computer • For each type of system you need to identify: • The features of the computer system, a purpose for each system, advantages and disadvantages for each system. Laptop Desktop Smartphone Embedded Tablet Mainframe

  9. Nat 4/5 Moore's Law • In 1965 the co-founder of Intel(Gordon Moore) made a prediction that: • “The number of transistors incorporated in a chip will approximately double every 24 months.” • So far this ‘law’ has held true but there are physical limits that will be reached. • Current processors are manufactured using 32 nanometre transistors (switches) • Intel has developed transistors so small that about 200 million of them could fit on the head of a pin

  10. Summary You need to be familiar with the following types of computers • Embedded, laptop, desktop, supercomputer and smartphone And compare them in terms of: • Type and speed of processor • Size of main memory • Backing storage • Input and output devices Nat 4/5

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