Nat 4/5 Computing Science Types of Computer and Performance 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 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

Clock Speed Clock speed is the simplest measure of performance 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

Speed isn't everything Some processors have 2, four or six cores 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?

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.

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! https://www.llnl.gov/news/newsreleases/2012/Jun/NR-12-06-07.html Sequoia - 6.7 billion people on earth using calculators and working together on a calculation 24 hours per day, 365 days a year, for 320 years…to do what Sequoia will do in one hour.

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 is an increase in smart phones And almost every piece of equipment will have a computer ‘embedded’ inside it

Different Types of Computer Nat 4/5 Different Types of Computer Laptop Desktop Smartphone Embedded Tablet Mainframe 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.

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

Summary You need to be familiar with the following types of computers Nat 4/5 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