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There are two main types of computer architecture each suited to different computational applications.
Click to engage. Image originally from IT Hare.
Task 1.1 Comparing Harvard and von Neumann Architecture Where we learn about the differences and similarities between the two computer architectures
Watch the video Get your headphones on and watch this video ... He sounds familiar ... Using a word processor, make some notes on these two different computer architectures. Use the following questions to help you structure your response.
Before we look closely at the way in which a Central Processing Unit (CPU) operates, we need to learn about the different components present in a simplified CPU and what their jobs are.
Task 2.1 Components of a CPU
Where you learn about the different components in a CPU and their functions
Watch the video Get your headphones on and watch this video ... Who is that crazy guy? Copy this diagram If you haven't already done this, copy this diagram onto the centre of a piece of A4 paper.
The main components of a Central Processing Unit Add Input / Output devices to the right of memory with I/O controller and buffer.
Add the label headings to your mindmap to explain the abbreviations Add the following headings to your diagram ...
... and perform some research using your favourite search engine to find out what they do. Add these explanations to your diagram but make sure they make sense! Do not "copy and paste" if you don't understand! Also, make sure you add a reference to the website to your annotation so I know where you've got it from! Grab a copy of or download this crossword puzzle (limited educational value, I know) and use it to annotate the diagram you have drawn on the A4 paper. You need to learn what these different components do.
When the processor executes a program, it does so using a very specific method called the Fetch, Decode, Execute cycle. The steps in the Fetch, Decode, Execute cycle use the components of the CPU in a very specific way. Task 1.1 The Fetch Decode Execute Cycle Where we learn to recall the steps in the FDX cycle so we can remember it in the exam! Look at the following diagram very carefully. You should already have got a copy of this in your notes. Now take a blank sheet of paper and make yourself a Learning Game / Card Sorting activity to help you remember the FDX cycle. Grab yourself an envelope to put your card sort in and make sure you practice it until you don't get it wrong! Wow - this is helping me remember! Task 1.2 Simple turtle graphics Where we learn how to program a mechanical turtle using a simple instruction set Instruction sets are simply instructions encoded in binary. Download and complete A Turtles Challenge and hand it into your teacher for assessment.
Processors are very complicated things and as such, there are many different factors which affect it's performance. Task 4.1 The 'X' Factor Where you learn about the different factors which affect the performance of a processor. Create a table Create a table on a word processed document with the following structure ... ... in each column write about ...
Clock speed is a measure of the number of operations that a CPU core can carry out per second. Perform some research on "cpu clock speed" on Google and use what you find to complete the first row in the table. No CPU can carry out more than one job at a time. However, if you put more processing cores in a CPU, and the software you run supports it, the CPU can process data in parallel which greatly increases it's performance. Again, perform some research on the World Wide Web on "multicore processors" and use this to complete the next row in the table. Cache memory is designed to store recently used instructions to prevent them having to be continually fetched from the main memory. The type and quantity of Cache memory on a processor massively effects it's performance. Again, perform some research on the World Wide Web on "processor cache" and use it to complete the third row in the table. This is quite useful as well! Graphics Processing Units (GPU) are dedicated, massively parallel processors, usually on an add-on board which are specifically designed to perform intensive data processing. Firstly, get your headphones on and watch these videos ... CPUs vs GPUs As Fast As Possible (5:59) Mythbusters Demo GPU versus CPU (1:23) Now, read more about the applications of GPUs on the NVIDIA website and then complete the last row in the table.
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