CPU Performance Simplified Revision Notes for GCSE OCR Computer Science

Revision notes with simplified explanations to understand CPU Performance quickly and effectively.

Learn about CPU Architecture, Performance & Embedded Systems for your GCSE Computer Science Exam. This Revision Note includes a summary of CPU Architecture, Performance & Embedded Systems for easy recall in your Computer Science exam

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CPU Performance

CPU Characteristics & Performance

Clock Speed

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Clock Speed is the number of fetch-decode-execute cycles a CPU can complete in one second. It is measured in hertz (Hz), typically in gigahertz (GHz), where 1 GHz equals one billion cycles per second.

A 3.6 GHz processor carries out 3.6 billion calculations a second.

Cache Size

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Cache Size is the amount of high-speed memory available to the CPU for storing frequently used data. Larger cache sizes allow the CPU to access data more quickly, improving performance.

Cache memory is a buffer that sits between the CPU and main memory.
The CPU will check here first for instructions that have been fetched before.
The larger the cache, the more space there is for instructions the CPU needs
The cache has similar access speeds to the CPU and is therefore quicker to fetch instructions from.

Number of Cores

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Number of Cores refers to the number of independent processors within a CPU that can work simultaneously. More cores allow the CPU to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, increasing overall performance.

A dual-core has 2, quad-core 4, hex core 6 processors working simultaneously.
The higher the number of cores, the better the performance of the computer as it can multitask.

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Key Points to Remember

Clock speed measures how many cycles a CPU can perform per second, with higher speeds leading to faster processing.
Cache size refers to high-speed memory in the CPU that stores frequently accessed data, improving performance with larger sizes.
Number of cores indicates the number of processors within the CPU, with more cores allowing better multitasking and overall performance.

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