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Hello, my name's Mrs. Jones, and I'm really pleased that you are here today.
In this lesson, we will look at computer specifications like cache, clock speed, and cores.
So let's get started.
Welcome to today's lesson.
Today's lesson is called "Computer Specifications" from the unit, "Computer Systems." And by the end of this lesson, you'll be able to explain how clock speed, cache size, and number of cores affect the performance of a device.
There are three key words to today's lesson.
Clock speed: Clock speed, measured in gigahertz, defines the number of FE cycles the CPU can complete per second.
Cache size: Cache size is onboard memory of the CPU measured in megabytes.
Core: Core is a mini processor inside the CPU carrying out instructions independently.
There are three sections to today's lesson.
The first is, "Explain how clock speed can affect performance," followed by "Describe how cache size can improve performance," and then "Compare the impact of number of cores." So let's start with, "Explain how clock speed can affect performance." The central processing unit, the CPU, is the essence of a computer.
It completes the fetch, Execute, the FE cycle, when a computer is switched on.
The FE cycle is important to helping your computer run lots of instructions per second to allow you to complete tasks.
The clock in a CPU counts how many FE cycles are completed per second.
The clock speed is measured in Hertz, Hz, and the computer CPU is measured in gigahertz, GHz.
A CPU clock speed of three gigahertz means 3 billion instructions per second.
Let's have a quick check.
How many instructions could a CPU with a clock speed of 4.
5 gigahertz run? Is it A: 45 million, B: 4.
5 billion, C: 4.
5 million, or D: 45 billion? Pause the video, go back through the slides, and consider your answer, and then we'll check it.
Let's check your answer.
The answer was B: 4.
5 billion.
Well done if you got that correct.
When you buy a computer, the processor states the clock speed.
The higher the clock speed, the more instructions that can be completed each second.
Sam asks, "This upgrade to the processor increases the clock speed to double the original.
Will it double the speed?" You can see here we've got the clock speed of 1.
5 gigahertz increase to 3 gigahertz.
The speed at which your computer processes instructions is the result of all of the components working together.
A processor that is twice as fast cannot make all the other components run twice as fast.
Sam asks, "Can you change the clock speed of a CPU?" Yes, you can.
Some people choose to overclock their CPU.
This means they intentionally increase the clock speed beyond what the manufacturer set.
It can increase performance, but does come with risks.
If it's not done correctly, and considering other components, for example, improving the fan, the CPU could overheat, causing damage.
Let's do an activity, and you'll need your worksheet for this.
Complete the table comparing different CPU clock speeds.
So we have four CPUs, each with a different clock speed, 1.
5 gigahertz, 4.
7 gigahertz, 2.
5 gigahertz, and 4.
5 gigahertz.
You need to complete how many cycles per second each can do, and then make a decision on which CPU should run the fastest.
Pause the video, go back through the slides, use your worksheet, and then we'll check your answers.
Let's check your answers.
1.
5 gigahertz is 1.
5 billion.
4.
7 gigahertz is 4.
7 billion.
2.
5 gigahertz is 2.
5 billion.
4.
5 gigahertz is 4.
5 billion.
And the highest, 4.
7 billion, 4.
7 gigahertz, should run the fastest.
Well done if you got that correct.
Let's do another activity.
This time, describe why doubling the clock speed might not double the speed of the CPU.
Pause the video, go back through the slides, use your worksheet, and then we'll check your answers.
Let's check your answers.
The speed at which your computer processes instructions is the result of all of the components working together.
A processor that is twice as fast cannot make all the other components run twice as fast.
Well done if you've got that correct.
Let's move on to the second part of today's lesson, "Describe how cache size can improve performance." The CPU uses the main memory, RAM, to store instructions and data during the FE cycle.
The RAM is located near the CPU, but it is not inside the CPU.
There is time spent transporting the data and instructions along the different buses.
Cache is very small, super-fast memory built right into or very close to the CPU.
It stores data and instructions that the CPU needs to access more frequently and very quickly.
The three levels are all closer than RAM for the CPU to access.
The cache size changes with the different levels.
Level 1 is measured in tens or hundreds of kilobytes, example, 64 kilobytes.
Level 2 is measured in hundreds of kilobytes to a few megabytes, for example, 512 kilobytes to 4 megabytes.
Level 3 is measured in several megabytes, for example, 8 megabytes to 32 megabytes, or more.
The more cache there is when you purchase a computer or new CPU, the more frequently used instructions can be stored.
This will speed up processing as the instructions do not need to be stored in RAM.
Cache is quicker to access by the CPU, which reduces the time the CPU spends waiting for data.
Let's have a quick check.
Which cache level would have a cache size between 512 kilobytes and 4 megabytes of memory capacity? Is it A: level 1, B: level 2, or C: level 3? Pause the video, go back through the slides, consider your answer, and then we'll check it.
Let's check your answer.
The answer was B: level 2.
Well done if you've got that correct.
Jacob is asking, "Can I add more cache to increase the cache size?" It is generally not possible for a user to increase the cache size of a CPU.
Cache is built into the CPU.
The cache memory is physically integrated directly into or onto the CPU chip itself during its manufacturing process.
Jacob asks, "How can I find out the cache size on my computer?" You can go to Task Manager and see the CPU performance.
The levels of cache and the cache size are visible.
On this image, you can see on the slide, the levels state that Level 1 cache is 512 kilobytes, Level 2 cache is 2 megabytes, and Level 3 cache is 12 megabytes, located on the bottom right of the image of the Task Manager screen there.
Let's do an activity, you'll need your worksheet.
Explain how a larger cache size can improve the speed of a computer.
Pause the video, go back through the slides, use your worksheet, and then we'll check your answer.
Let's check your answer.
A larger cache size can significantly improve the speed of a computer by reducing the time the CPU spends waiting for data.
The CPU needs to access data and instructions constantly to perform tasks.
Cache memory is a very fast, small amount of memory built directly into the CPU.
A larger cache means the CPU can store more frequently used data and instructions closer to itself.
This increases the chances of finding the data it needs in the super-fast cache, leading to a fewer trips to the slower main RAM.
Well done if you've got that correct.
Let's move on to the third part of today's lesson, "Compare the impact of a number of cores." Modern CPUs will have more than one core, and each core can run its own FE cycles.
CPUs with more than one core are called multi-core processors.
A core can also be called a processing unit.
The CPU can have more than one core, and each core can process instructions independently.
And here, we've got the different types.
We have a dual-core, which has two cores, a quad-core, which has four cores, a hexa-core has six cores, and octo-core has eight cores.
A single-core is one core and a dual-core is two cores.
This has basic speed.
It can handle one or two tasks well at a time.
It's best for very basic tasks like light web browsing, email, or simple word processing.
It is seen in older or cheaper computer builds.
A quad-core is four cores.
This has good speed.
It's much better for multitasking, and many common tasks.
It's best for most everyday use, general home/school computers, light gaming, and multi browser tabs.
Hexa-core, which is six cores, or octo-core, which is eight cores, has excellent speed.
It handles many tasks at once with ease, very fast for demanding software, best for heavy multitasking, serious gaming, professional video editing, graphic design, and 3D rendering.
In order to share data, the cores are connected by channels.
Important data can be sent from one core to another.
One core has no channels.
Two cores has one channel connecting the two together.
Three cores has three channels.
And four cores has six channels.
You can see on the diagrams how they are connected, how those channels connect the cores together.
Let's have a quick check.
How many channels does a quad-core processor have? Is it A: 0, B: 1, C: 3, or D: 6? Pause the video, go back through the slides, and consider your answer, and then we'll check it.
Let's check your answer.
The answer was D: 6.
Well done if you got that correct.
Laura asks, "Does having more cores mean my computer will run faster?" Generally, the more cores you have, the more instructions that can be run independently.
This means it should be faster, but it's not always that simple, as the software you are running needs to be designed to work with multi-core processes.
Also, the instructions may require other instructions to be completed first as they cannot be split over different cores.
Laura asks, "How do I know how many cores my CPU has?" You can go to your Task Manager and see the number of cores.
Here, the levels state there are eight cores.
This CPU is an octo-core processor.
And you can see that on the right of your Task Manager, above the cache levels, it says Core, and you see 8 there.
Let's do an activity, and you'll need your worksheet.
Label the diagrams with how many cores each CPU has.
We have the single-core, dual-core, quad-core, hexa-core, and octo-core, and you need to write in there to label it how many cores do each have? Pause the video, go back through the slides, use your worksheet, and then we'll check your answers.
Let's check your answers.
The answers was "A single-core has one core, dual-core has two cores, quad-core has four cores, hexa-core has six cores, and an octo-core has eight cores." Well done if you've got that correct.
Let's do another activity.
This time, complete the table to compare the impact of multi-core processors.
You have a table with a number of cores on the left, 1 to 2 cores, 4 cores, and 6 to 8 cores.
And you need to complete the column for "speed" and the column for "best for:".
Pause the video, go back through the slides, complete it on the worksheet, and then we'll check your answers.
Let's check your answers.
1 to 2 cores, the speed is a basic speed.
It can handle one or two tasks well at a time, and it is best for very basic tasks like light web browsing, email, or simple word processing.
Seen in older or cheaper computer builds.
4 cores: The speed is good speed, much better for multitasking, and many common tasks.
It is best for most everyday use, general home/school computers, light gaming, multiple browser tabs.
6 to 8 cores: The speed is excellent speed, handles many tasks at once with ease, very fast for demanding software, and it's best for heavy multitasking, serious gaming, professional video editing, graphic design, and 3D rendering.
Well done if you got that correct.
In summary, a CPU's performance can be improved by looking at clock speed, cache size, and number of cores.
The higher the clock speed, the more instructions that can be completed each second.
A larger cache size can improve the speed of a computer by reducing the time the CPU spends waiting for data from RAM.
Generally, the more cores you have, the more instructions that can be run independently.
Well done for completing this lesson on "Computer Specifications.".