1.2 - CPU Performance

Question 1

What is a cache memory?

Answer 1

Temporary storage for frequently used instructions

Question 2

Describe 2 ways that more cache memory will mean that performance is higher

Answer 2

Closer to the CPU than RAM so can provide data and instructions at faster rate. Higher performance because the instructions and data can be accessed quicker

Question 3

Explain why most computers only have a small amount of cache memory

Answer 3

Expensive

Question 4

What is clock speed and what are its units?

Answer 4

Measure of how quickly the CPU can process instructions. Measured in GHz

Question 5

Explain how a higher clock speed improves performance

Answer 5

FDE cycle is performed faster, more instructions can be executed can be processed each second.

Question 6

Define underclocking and its effects

Answer 6

When clock speed is lower than recommended. Computer perform faster but decrease lifespan.

Question 7

Define overclocking and its effects

Answer 7

When clock speed is higher than recommended. Computer perform slower but increase lifespan.

Question 8

What is a core?

Answer 8

Complete set of CPU components. Each core can perform FDE cycle

Question 9

Why should a quad-core processor have higher performance than a dual-core processor?

Answer 9

Can process more instructions simultaneously

Question 10

Explain why more core doesn’t necessarily mean the performance will be better

Answer 10

If one core is waiting for another to finish processing, performance will not increase. Some programmes is not written for multi cores