Designing for Performance in Computing
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Designing for Performance in Computing

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following applications benefit from powerful microprocessor-based systems?

  • Data entry software
  • Speech recognition (correct)
  • Basic text editing
  • Spreadsheet management

    • What is the main advantage of pipelining in microprocessors?

  • It allows for the execution of instructions independently. (correct)
  • It reduces the speed of each instruction.
  • It eliminates the need for parallel processing.
  • It ensures all data packets are acknowledged before transmission.

    • How often can chip manufacturers release a new generation of chips according to Moore's Law?

  • Every six months
  • Every year
  • Every three years (correct)
  • Every five years

    • Which of the following is a technique used to increase microprocessor performance?

    <p>Branch prediction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by 'superscalar execution' in microprocessors?

    <p>Executing multiple instructions simultaneously.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does pipelining NOT impact in a microprocessor's performance?

    <p>Execution time of individual instructions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the role of cloud service providers with regard to performance?

    <p>They rely on high-performance servers for massive transactions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following does NOT represent a benefit of powerful desktop applications?

    <p>Extreme data storage capacity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the main advantages of pipelining in microprocessors?

    <p>Improves the flow in the instruction pipeline</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does superscalar execution in microprocessors refer to?

    <p>Issuing multiple independent instructions in parallel</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does branch prediction enhance microprocessor performance?

    <p>By guessing the next instructions to avoid delays</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of speculative execution in microprocessors?

    <p>To execute instructions before they are needed based on predictions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What challenge does a microprocessor face regarding different component speeds?

    <p>The slower components can cause bottlenecks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In data flow analysis for microprocessors, what is the main objective?

    <p>To optimize the schedule of instruction execution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a functionality of pipelining?

    <p>Increased instruction set complexity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens when a branch prediction is incorrect?

    <p>Speculative instructions are discarded and the pipeline resets</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does increasing the number of bits retrieved at one time in a DRAM accomplish?

    <p>It helps to make memory access more efficient.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one strategy to overcome the imbalance between memory and processor speeds?

    <p>Reduce the number of memory accesses required.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a benefit of increasing the size and speed of caches?

    <p>Reduction in overall power consumption.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'power density' refer to in relation to high-speed chips?

    <p>The heat generated relative to the chip's area.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major design issue arises from increasing clock speed and logic density in chips?

    <p>Challenges in heat dissipation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following techniques increases the effective speed of instruction execution in processors?

    <p>Dedicated cache access.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor does NOT contribute to RC delay according to the content?

    <p>Voltage levels in the circuit.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the goal of incorporating increasingly complex cache structures between processors and memory?

    <p>To facilitate data flow and efficiency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary advantage of multicore processors compared to single complex processors?

    <p>Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does an increase in capacitance in chip wiring primarily lead to?

    <p>Increased resistance in wire interconnects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of multiple caches in multicore processors?

    <p>To improve performance by reducing access time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of computer performance, which measure is considered more significant than raw speed?

    <p>Execution performance of applications</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant challenge associated with Many Integrated Core (MIC) processor designs?

    <p>Developing software that can exploit multiple cores</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does decreasing the size of components on a chip affect performance?

    <p>Increases resistance and decreases signal speed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of processing units does a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) combine with general-purpose processors?

    <p>Vector processors for video processing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which is true about the limitations faced with raw speed in modern processors?

    <p>It is often less relevant than the performance for specific applications</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Designing for Performance

    • Cost of computer systems is decreasing while performance and capacity are dramatically increasing.
    • Modern desktop applications benefiting from high-performance microprocessor systems include:
      • Image processing
      • Three-dimensional rendering
      • Speech recognition
      • Videoconferencing
      • Multimedia authoring
      • Voice and video annotation
      • Simulation modeling
    • Businesses now depend on powerful servers for transaction processing and database management, replacing traditional mainframes.
    • Cloud service providers utilize extensive servers for high-volume, high-transaction-rate applications.

    Microprocessor Speed

    • Due to Moore's Law, chip generations are released every three years, featuring four times the transistors which enhance speed.
    • Key techniques to increase performance in modern microprocessors:
      • Superscalar execution
      • Pipelining
      • Branch prediction
      • Speculative execution
      • Data flow analysis

    Pipelining

    • Sends multiple data packets serially for increased efficiency without waiting for prior acknowledgments.
    • Supports parallelism in hardware-level execution, particularly with common instructions.
    • Overall program execution time reduces even if individual instruction execution time does not.

    Superscalar Execution

    • Allows issuing multiple independent instructions in parallel during each clock cycle, utilizing multiple parallel pipelines.

    Branch Prediction

    • Improves instruction pipeline flow by anticipating which instructions will be processed next, reducing delays caused by conditional jumps.
    • If predictions fail, speculatively executed instructions are discarded, resulting in a pipeline restart.

    Speculative Execution

    • Executes instructions ahead of their appearance based on predictions, keeping execution engines busy and optimizing performance.

    Performance Balance

    • Designing efficient systems requires balancing components operating at different speeds.
    • DRAM is generally much slower than processors, necessitating adjustments in system architecture.
    • System benchmark comparisons are more relevant than raw performance metrics of individual components.

    Improvements in Chip Organization and Architecture

    • Increasing processor speed is possible through smaller logic gates, allowing higher clock rates and reduced signal propagation time.
    • Enhanced cache size and speed contribute to significantly lower access times.
    • Modifications in processor organization boost effective instruction execution speed and parallelism.

    Problems with Clock Speed and Logic Density

    • Power density increases as logic density and clock speed rise, complicating heat dissipation.
    • RC delay impacts signal speed due to resistance and capacitance, exacerbated as component sizes decrease.
    • Memory latency remains an issue as memory speeds do not match processor speeds.

    New Approaches for Performance Improvement

    • Multicore processing integrates multiple processors on a single chip with a shared cache, facilitating performance gains without raising clock rates.
    • Many Integrated Core (MIC) architecture includes numerous cores for extensive parallel processing capabilities.

    Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

    • GPUs consist of multiple general-purpose processors alongside dedicated graphics processing units.
    • Facilitate 2D and 3D graphics rendering and video processing effectively.
    • Allows for repetitive computations across various applications.

    Basic Measures of Computer Performance

    • Performance must be assessed alongside cost, size, security, reliability, and power consumption.
    • Effective application execution is more crucial than raw processing speed.

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    Related Documents

    chapter 2 - 16.pdf

    Description

    This quiz explores the concepts of performance and capacity in modern computer systems. It highlights the applications that demand high processing power, including image processing and multimedia authoring. Test your knowledge on how these technologies leverage the advancements in microprocessors.

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