CPU
68 Questions
3 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What scale in computing refers to systems capable of performing at least 1 EFLOPS?

  • Petascale
  • Terascale
  • FLOPScale
  • Exascale (correct)
  • Which of the following supercomputers was the fastest as of June 2018?

  • Titan
  • Summit (correct)
  • Blue Gene
  • Fugaku
  • What is the value of one petaFLOP in terms of FLOPS?

  • $10^{15}$ (correct)
  • $10^{12}$
  • $10^{9}$
  • $10^{18}$
  • What is a common hardware component that allows a computer to store data and programs?

    <p>ROM (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a scientific prefix used in measuring FLOPS?

    <p>Octa (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of architecture includes components such as address bus, data bus, and control bus?

    <p>Microcomputer Architecture (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many TFLOPS does a PlayStation 4 Pro achieve?

    <p>4.2 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the theoretical peak performance of the Summit Supercomputer in petaFLOPS?

    <p>200 (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these is a primary memory type that the CPU communicates with directly?

    <p>RAM (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of language do CPUs primarily recognize?

    <p>Machine Language (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which device is classified as an output device?

    <p>LCD Screen (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which converter is required to run assembly language programs?

    <p>Assembler (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT considered a mass storage device?

    <p>RAM (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of memory is used to temporarily store data and programs for the CPU to access?

    <p>RAM (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component serves as the 'heart' of the computer and executes instructions?

    <p>Central Processing Unit (CPU) (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following input devices is commonly used in embedded applications?

    <p>Sensor (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the clock chip in a microprocessor?

    <p>To regulate timing and speed of computer functions (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component acts as a small memory location within the CPU to speed up data access?

    <p>CPU Cache (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the cache when the processor accesses data?

    <p>It checks if the data is in the cache before accessing main memory. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is the speed of a computer processor commonly measured?

    <p>In clock speed, such as MHz (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What fundamental tradeoff exists in CPU cache performance?

    <p>Speed versus accuracy (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a multi-level cache system, which cache level is typically checked first?

    <p>L1 Cache (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens when the CPU cache does not hold the required data?

    <p>The CPU accesses main memory directly. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines the shortest time any computer can perform a function?

    <p>One clock cycle (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'gigaflop' represent in computing?

    <p>One billion floating-point operations per second (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about microcomputers is true?

    <p>They consist of a CPU, memory, and I/O devices. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines the principal characteristic of a computer's ability to execute instructions?

    <p>It can respond to a specific set of instructions. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why are floating-point numbers important in computing?

    <p>They simplify the storage of large numerical data. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements is inaccurate regarding the advancements in computing power?

    <p>The processing speed of ancient computers remains unparalleled. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is classified as a mass storage device?

    <p>Disk drive (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following devices inputs data into a microcomputer?

    <p>Mouse (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of memory does the CPU communicate with at any given time?

    <p>RAM and ROM (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component converts assembly language programs into machine language?

    <p>Assembler (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of output devices?

    <p>Display results of processing (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes high-level languages from low-level languages?

    <p>They are more user-friendly. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common input device for embedded applications?

    <p>Simple switch (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of language must be converted before it can be executed by a CPU?

    <p>Assembly language (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of the paged pool in a computer system?

    <p>To provide a region for Kernel-mode memory allocation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does a multiprocessor system differ from a uniprocessor system regarding paged pools?

    <p>It has four paged pools (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement accurately describes the non-paged pool?

    <p>It is used for allocating system memory that must always be resident (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of the hyperspace in process management?

    <p>To map working sets and assist in task creation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component within a microprocessor system is classified as the master?

    <p>Microprocessor (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'zeroing a page' refer to in the context of hyperspace?

    <p>Clearing a page in the free list for reuse (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a microprocessor-based system, how is the ALU categorized?

    <p>As an internal component of the processor (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do Kernel-mode components play in memory management?

    <p>They assist in the initialization of paged pools (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does a CPU cache improve data access for the processor?

    <p>By holding recent data to reduce access time (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the shortest time any computer can perform a function measured by?

    <p>One clock cycle (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the tradeoff when using larger CPU caches?

    <p>Better hit rates but longer latency (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the CPU check first when it needs to retrieve data?

    <p>L1 cache (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component is found within the clock chip and is responsible for its frequency of operation?

    <p>Quartz crystal (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What challenge does a CPU face due to the speed differences between cache and main memory?

    <p>Fast data retrieval without prefetching necessary data (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might a CPU cache not always hold the required data?

    <p>Data was never cached in the first place (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a key feature of the Intel 4004 microprocessor when it was released in 1971?

    <p>It had a 4-bit word size. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which processor was recognized for its introduction of superscalar architecture?

    <p>Pentium (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the transistor count of the Intel Pentium processor?

    <p>3.2 million transistors (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic is associated with the Intel 80286 processor?

    <p>Virtual memory capability (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Moore's Law state regarding the number of transistors in integrated circuits?

    <p>It doubles approximately every 18 months. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What processing frequency range did the Intel Pentium 4 achieve?

    <p>1.4 - 3.4 GHz (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant feature of the Intel iCore architecture?

    <p>Support for up to 64 GB of addressable memory (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a defining characteristic of the 80386 microprocessor?

    <p>It supports a 32-bit datapath. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of the microprocessor in a microprocessor-based system?

    <p>To control all activities of the system (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes the function of buses in a microprocessor system?

    <p>To carry data, address, or control signals (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic of I/O devices is highlighted regarding their speed?

    <p>They typically operate at a speed slower than the microprocessor. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of memory is used for storing temporary programs and data?

    <p>RAM (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What initiates communication from a peripheral to the master system?

    <p>An interrupt signal (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which device acts as a means to enter data into the microprocessor system?

    <p>Input device (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do additional control signals in the CPU interface facilitate?

    <p>Demultiplexing of signals (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do peripheral devices often require an interface device?

    <p>To facilitate communication between devices and the microprocessor (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Mass Storage Device

    A device that allows a computer to permanently store large amounts of data.

    Input Device

    A device that allows data and instructions to enter a computer.

    Output Device

    A device that displays computer results. It receives results from the CPU.

    CPU (Central Processing Unit)

    The "brain" of the computer that executes instructions.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Software

    Computer programs and stored data.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Binary Language

    The only language directly understood by the CPU.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Primary Memory

    RAM and ROM. The CPU directly accesses these.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Secondary Memory

    Storage for long-term data.Transferred to primary memory for use.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    FLOPS

    Floating-point Operations Per Second. A measure of computer processing speed, specifically the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations a computer can perform in one second.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Terascale Computing

    Computing methods using supercomputers capable of at least 1 TFLOPS (10^12 floating-point operations per second) or storage systems of at least 1 TB.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Petascale Computing

    Computing using supercomputers with at least 1 PFLOPS (10^15 floating-point operations per second) or corresponding storage (1 PB).

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Exascale Computing

    Computing using supercomputers capable of at least 1 EFLOPS (10^18 floating-point operations per second) or equivalent storage (1 EB).

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Supercomputer

    A computer with significantly higher processing speed and memory capacity than a typical desktop or laptop computer designed to handle extremely complex calculations or large datasets.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    TFLOPS

    TeraFLOPS; 10^12 Floating-point Operations Per Second.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Summit Supercomputer

    A supercomputer known for having a very high FLOPS capability.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    10 PetaBytes of RAM

    A very large amount of computer memory (10,000,000 gigabytes).

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Microprocessor Clock

    A microchip controlling the timing and speed of computer functions.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Clock Speed

    The speed of a computer processor measured in cycles per second (e.g., MHz).

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    CPU Cache

    Small memory inside the CPU that stores recently used data for faster access.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Cache Hit

    When the CPU finds the needed data in the cache.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Cache Latency

    The time it takes to access data in the cache.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Cache Hit Rate

    The percentage of times the CPU finds data in the cache.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Multi-level Cache

    Multiple caches within a computer, from fastest to largest.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Main Memory (RAM)

    The primary memory where data is stored while a program is running.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What is a Microprocessor?

    The main component of a microcomputer system, also known as the Central Processing Unit (CPU). It directs and controls all operations of the computer.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What are the key components of a microcomputer system?

    A minimum of memory (RAM & ROM) and input/output (I/O) devices like graphics cards, keyboards, etc.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What is a FLOP?

    A measure of how quickly a computer can perform floating-point calculations, which are used to represent very large numbers.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What is a gigaflop?

    A unit of computer processing speed equal to one billion floating-point operations per second.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Why are FLOPs important?

    They measure how fast a computer can perform complex calculations, especially with very large numbers. This is crucial for scientific computing, simulations, and other demanding tasks.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What is the role of a mass storage device?

    A mass storage device is used to store large amounts of data permanently in a computer. Examples include disk drives and tape drives.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    How does data get into a computer?

    Input devices, such as a keyboard or mouse, allow users to input data and instructions into the computer.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What shows us what the computer has done?

    Output devices, such as a display screen or printer, show the results of the computer's operations.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What is the brain of the computer?

    The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the heart of the computer; it executes instructions and performs calculations.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What are high-level languages?

    High-level programming languages are more user-friendly and use English-like words, making them easier to understand and write.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What is the difference between primary and secondary memory?

    Primary memory (RAM & ROM) is used to store data and programs temporarily while the CPU is actively using them. Secondary memory (disk drives, etc.) stores data and programs permanently for later retrieval.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    How do input devices work in embedded systems?

    Embedded systems often use simple switches and sensors as input devices, making them respond to physical events.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What are common output devices for embedded systems?

    Embedded systems often use LED displays, LCD displays, and motors as output devices, displaying information and performing actions.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Hyperspace

    A special region used to manage the working set of a process, including operations like zeroing pages, invalidating page table entries, and setting up new process address spaces.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Paged Pool

    A region of virtual memory in system space that can be paged in and out. Kernel-mode components use it for system memory allocation.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Non-Paged Pool

    A memory pool that always stays in physical memory. It's used for kernel-mode components that need constant access.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    How many paged pools do multiprocessor systems have?

    Multiprocessor systems have four paged pools.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Why have multiple paged pools?

    Having multiple paged pools reduces the risk of system components blocking each other when accessing the pool.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What's the difference between paged pool and non-paged pool?

    Paged pool can be swapped in and out of memory, while non-paged pool always stays in physical memory.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What is a microcomputer?

    A computer system built around a microprocessor as its central processing unit (CPU).

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What does a microprocessor do?

    It performs calculations, controls operations, and manages communication between computer components.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What are the main tasks done inside the processor?

    The microprocessor (CPU) performs basic operations like addition, subtraction, logical comparisons, and data transfers. These internal tasks are the core of how a computer works.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What about work done outside the processor?

    The microprocessor interacts with external components like memory (RAM, EPROM), input/output devices (keyboard, printer), and peripherals, reading and writing data.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What are peripherals?

    Devices connected to the microprocessor but not directly part of it. They include things like memory, input devices, output devices, and interfaces.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What are the popular input devices?

    Devices that allow users to input data into the computer. Common examples include a keyboard and floppy disk.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What are the popular output devices?

    Devices that display information or results from the computer to the user. Examples include printers and LED/LCD screens.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What are buses?

    Groups of lines that carry data, address, or control signals between different components of a computer system.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    How does the microprocessor control peripherals?

    The microprocessor acts as the master controller, sending signals to peripherals to read or write data. Peripherals can interrupt the microprocessor when they need attention.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What is a program?

    A set of instructions that tells the microprocessor what tasks to perform. Programs are stored in memory and executed by the CPU.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What is the fundamental tradeoff between cache size and latency?

    Larger caches have better hit rates, meaning the CPU is more likely to find the data it needs, but they also have longer latency, meaning it takes longer to access the data within the cache. Smaller caches are faster to access but have lower hit rates.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    First Microprocessor

    The 4004, created in 1971, was the first microprocessor. It was designed specifically for the Busicom calculator.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Microprocessor Characteristics

    Microprocessors have features like transistor count, clock speed, and word size. These characteristics define their performance and capabilities.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    80286: Virtual Memory

    The 80286, introduced in 1982 for the IBM PC AT, was notable for its virtual memory capability. This allowed it to use more memory than physically available.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    32-Bit Processing: 80386

    The 80386, released in 1985, ushered in the era of 32-bit processing. It redefined the computing landscape with a modern x86 instruction set.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Superscalar Processing: Pentium

    The Pentium, launched in 1993, was a leap forward. It used superscalar architecture, allowing it to execute two instructions simultaneously.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Deep Pipelining: Pentium 4

    The Pentium 4, introduced in 2001, employed a deep pipeline design, resulting in very fast clock speeds. It also featured a larger L2 cache for better performance.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Intel iCore: Multi-Core CPUs

    Intel iCore processors represent a generation of multi-core CPUs. They feature multiple physical cores, enabling parallel processing.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Moore's Law

    Moore's Law states that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles approximately every two years. This leads to exponential growth in processing power.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Study Notes

    Microprocessors (CPUs)

    • A microprocessor is the central processing unit (CPU) of a microcomputer system.
    • A microcomputer system has a minimum of memory (e.g., RAM and ROM) and input/output (I/O) devices (e.g., graphics card, I/O devices)
    • A microcomputer is a programmable machine that runs instructions in a well-defined manner and can execute prerecorded instructions (programs).
    • Modern computers are electronic and digital.

    Byte Scale (Units of Storage/Capacity)

    • Megabyte (MB) = 1,000,000 bytes
    • Gigabyte (GB) = 1,000,000,000 bytes
    • Terabyte (TB) = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes
    • Petabyte (PB) = 1,000,000,000,000,000 bytes
    • Exabyte (EB) = 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes
    • Zettabyte (ZB) = 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes
    • Yottabyte (YB) = 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes

    Definition: FLOP

    • Floating-point operations per second (FLOPS) are used to measure how quickly computers perform calculations with extremely large numbers.
    • Gigaflops (GFLOPS) is one billion floating-point operations per second
    • Computer systems use floating-point numbers to represent extremely large numbers.
    • ICT professionals use the term "flops" to indicate how quickly computers can calculate floating-point numbers.
    • The use of terms like "gigaflop" correspond to other terms (e.g., gigabyte) which represents a quantity of data storage (one billion bytes)
    • Modern computers have processing speed that exceed a single gigaflop.

    Scientific Prefixes in Computing

    • The table lists scientific prefixes for describing quantities of floating-point operations. (FLOPS). Including kiloFLOPS, megaFLOPS, gigaFLOPS, teraFLOPS, petaFLOPS, exaFLOPS, zettaFLOPS, yottaFLOPS).
    • Each prefix has a corresponding value in terms of powers of 10. (e.g., kilo=10³, mega=10⁶)

    Supercomputing

    • The list of supercomputers includes their performance rating (in petaFLOPS (PF) or teraflops (TF)) and year of release.
    • Examples are Summit, Jaguar, Cray XT5 etc

    Oak Ridge Facility Sumit Supercomputer

    • The Oak Ridge facility houses the supercomputer Summit, which costs €200 million.

    Scales in Computing

    • Terascale: methods and processes using supercomputers with at least 1 teraflop (TFLOPS) or storage capable of holding 1 terabyte (TB).
    • Petabyte: methods and processes using supercomputers capable of performing at least 1 petaFLOPS or storage systems capable of storing at least 1 petabyte (PB)
    • Exascale: methods and processes using supercomputers capable of performing at least 1 exaflop (EFLOPS) or storage systems capable of storing at least 1 exabyte.

    Comparisons - Computing Power

    • Different consoles (PlayStation 4, Xbox One S, PlayStation Pro etc) and a Nintendo Switch's computing power is listed and their respective release dates and performance rating.
    • As of June 2018 the Summit Supercomputer was the fastest machine.

    Block diagrams (Microcomputer & Microprocessor)

    • A block diagram illustrates the architecture of a basic computer system’s components - including CPU, ROM, RAM, input/output interface, input/output devices, address bus, data bus, and control bus.

    Hardware

    • All general-purpose computers require memory to store programs and data.
    • Common mass storage devices include disk drives and tape drives.
    • Usual input devices include a keyboard and mouse.
    • Examples of output devices include display screens, printers.
    • The CPU is the central processing unit; it executes instructions.

    Software

    • Programs and data stored in a microcomputer are called software.
    • Programs can be written in low-level languages (binary or assembly languages) or high-level languages.
    • A CPU understands only binary language which is called machine language.
    • Assembly language instructions include alphabets and/or numeric characters; to run assembly programs a converter called assembler is required.
    • High-level languages are more user friendly using English words; to run them a compiler or interpreter is required.

    Input & Output Devices

    • Input devices are used in microcomputer systems to input electrical or physical information in digital form.
    • Common input devices in embedded applications include simple switches and sensors.
    • General-purpose microcomputers use scanners, keyboards, mice, and network cards for input.
    • Output devices display information or perform required operations.
    • Embedded applications often use LEDs, LCDs, and stepper motors as output devices; general-purpose computers use LCD screens , LED screens, printers , and network cards as output devices.

    Memories

    • Memory is used to temporarily or permanently store computer data and programs.
    • Primary memory (RAM and ROM) is the main memory the CPU uses.
    • Secondary memory (hard disks) stores large amounts of data for use by the CPU when required.

    Memory Classification

    • The diagram shows a classification of memory including Primary / Main Memory, Cache Memory and Secondary/ Auxiliary memory.

    Basic Operation of a Microprocessor

    • A simplified block diagram of a microprocessor (CPU) shows the ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit), Register Section, Control and timing section, and the buses (address, data, and control).

    Memory Mapping for I/O Devices

    • A diagram shows the memory addresses for peripherals and I/O devices within a computer’s memory space.
    • It displays the memory mapping for PCI, chipsets, Direct Media Interface and ICH ranges that are relevant for I/O devices approximately 750MB.

    Memory Mapping

    • In the table a comparison of 64-bit and 32-bit Windows is made with respect to computer architecture, virtual memory, paging file size, hyperspace size in GB etc.

    Explanation: Virtual Memory

    • Virtual memory is a system that extends available physical memory by using a page file/swapfile.
    • Programs can use more memory than is physically available in the RAM.
    • Unused memory will be stored in the page/swap file and retrieved on demand.
    • Virtual memory increases the amount of memory available to programs, including older 32-bit applications.

    Other Explanations

    • Paging file: A virtual disk space that allows the computer to increase the amount of physical storage for virtual memory.
    • Hyperspace: Special memory region for tasks like mapping working sets, setting zero pages or allocating new processes.
    • Paged pool: Part of virtual memory in system space to which Kernel-mode components allocate system memory.
    • Non-paged pool: Dedicated memory regions that are always in physical memory, used for frequently accessed operations.

    Theoretical Limits for Address Busses

    • Different bit sizes of address busses determine the theoretical maximum memory size the computer can address.
    • 16-bit = approximately 65,536 bytes.
    • 32-bit = approximately 4,294,967,296 bytes (4 GB).
    • 64-bit = approximately 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 (16 EB).

    System (Bus)

    • A diagram showing the different components of a computer system including the CPU and Microprocessor, RAM, ROM, Input devices (Keyboard, mouse, etc), Output devices (Monitor, Printer, etc), Storage devices (Floppy disks, CDs, Hard disks, External Memory) and buses.

    The Diagram of a Microprocessor (µP) System

    • The block diagram of a microprocessor (µP) is showed, that includes the CPU chip (ALU, Communication, Registers, Control section). Different buses (DATA, ADRR, CTRL, Clock) and devices connected to the buses.(e.g. Program memory (ROM), Data memory (RAM), Operator devices, Communication devices, Process devices).

    Explanation of a Microprocessor (µP) System

    • Microprocessor is a semiconductor device used as the CPU in microcomputers.
    • VLSI technique is used to manufacture integrated circuits (ICs) that include ALU, register arrays, and control circuitry on a single chip.
    • Microprocessor-based systems (single board computers) have CPU, memory devices (e.g., EPROM, RAM), input devices, output devices, and interconnecting devices (peripherals).
    • Peripherals include keyboard, mouse, and printers
    • Peripheral devices communicate with and are controlled by the CPU through the system bus that has separate lines that carry data, address, or control signals.
    • EPROM stores programs and data permanently. RAM stores program and data temporarily.
    • Input devices provide program data to the system. Output devices show the result to the user.

    Microprocessor (µP) Clock

    • The clock regulates the timing of computer functions in general.
    • A crystal (also called a quartz crystal) inside the clock chip vibrates at a specific frequency when electricity is applied. This frequency determines the processing speed of the computer.
    • The shortest time a computer can perform an operation equals one vibration cycle of the clock.
    • Clock speed is measured in hertz (Hz).

    System BUS – In Real Life

    • Shows a picture of internal components of a computer system.

    Motherboard

    • Illustration showing the internal components of a motherboard including: PCI-Express Slots,Back Panel Connectors,Easy Buttons, Easy OC, Switch,PCIE Slots,etc.

    A CPU Cache

    • A small memory location within the CPU, used by the processor to store frequently used data or instructions.
    • The cache reduces the time to access data from the main memory (RAM).

    A CPU Cache Levels

    • When a processor needs data, it first checks the cache.
    • Faster access if the data is in the cache.
    • Caches prefetch data; however, the caches may not always have the data the CPU needs.
    • An issue with speed versus accuracy arises from the balance between cache latency and hit rate.
    • Larger caches improve hit rates, but increase latency.

    4004

    • The first microprocessor, for a Busicom calculator, released in 1971;
    • It had 10µm process, 2300 transistors, 400 to 800 kHz speed, 4-bit word size, and 16-pin DIP package.
    • Drawn on Rubylith (a light-sensitive material) which makes masks for IC fabrication.

    80286

    • Release date: 1982;
    • IBM PC AT;
    • 1.5µm process; internal ROM characteristics.

    80386

    • Released in 1985;
    • 32-bit processor.
    • Modern x86 ISA; 1.5-1µm process; 275k transistors;16–33MHz; 32-bit word size, 100-pin PGA, microcode ROM, synthesized control.

    Pentium

    • Release date: 1993, Superscalar, using 2 instructions per cycle, separate 8KB Instruction Cache and Data Cache; 0.8-0.35 µm process, 3.2 million transistors, 60–300MHz , 32-bit word size, 296-pin PGA,
    • caches, datapath, FPU, control.

    Pentium 4

    • Released in 2001, very deep pipeline, 256KB-1024KB L2 Cache; 180 nm- 90 nm process technology with 42-125 million transistors, 1.4–3.4GHz, 32-bit word, 478-pin PGA.

    Intel™ iCores

    • Generational Multi-Core CPUs; 4 physical CPU's = 8 logical CPUs; 22 nm technology; 20 MB Intel Smart Cache; Intel 64 architecture; Level 1 Cache 16KB data cache; Level 2 Cache 20MB Smart Cache, dividing up between 8 cores; Boost Technology Up to 3.5GHz; 64GB addressable memory.

    Intel™ i Core 7i

    • Processor Graphics, Core (shows 4 CPUs), Shared L3 Cache, Memory Controller I/O, and system Agent.

    Summary

    • History of Intel microprocessors over three decades tabulated with information like processor, year, feature size(µm), transistors, frequency(Mhz) word size, package.
    • Shows an increase in the transistor count of microprocessors over time.

    Growth in Processing

    • A graph showing an exponential increase in computation speed over time along with the increasing number of calculations per second.
    • Different processing technologies are highlighted. (e.g., mechanical, solid state, vacuum tube, transistor, integrated circuits)

    Growth in Scale (Moore's Law)

    • A graph illustrating Moore's Law, showing the exponential growth of transistors on integrated circuits over time.

    Moore's Law

    • The trend of doubling the number of transistors on integrated circuits approximately every 18 months, which has significantly increased processing power of computers.
    • Observations by Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel.
    • Moore's original predictions were generally accurate but the pace has slowed.
    • Limitations may exist as transistors get smaller, as the atomic level is reached.

    The Future of CPU's?

    • Future possible alternative CPU technologies being explored include using non-silicon alternatives (such as carbon nanotubes, Molecular computing, and organic molecules), optical computing (using light instead of electricity), and quantum computing.

    Carbon Nano Tubes

    • Carbon nanotubes are a promising new material for computing, as they may be able to boost processing speed and energy efficiency.

    Any Questions?

    • This is a simple question prompt.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    Description

    Test your knowledge of supercomputing concepts, including performance metrics like TFLOPS and EFLOPS, as well as hardware components related to data storage and processing. This quiz covers important terminology and historical facts about supercomputers, measuring both theoretical and practical aspects of computing power.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Browser