Factors Affecting CPU Performance (GCSE AQA)

Imagine you are building a computer. What is the first critical aspect of the CPU design you would consider to affect its performance?

• The size of the cache

• The speed of the clock

• The number of cores

• The efficiency of communication

Imagine you are a computer engineer working on a CPU. What would be the purpose of including a cache in your design?

• To store temporary data and instructions that the CPU might need to access quickly

• To control the clock speed of the CPU

• To increase the number of cores in the CPU

• To improve the efficiency of communication between the CPU and other components

Imagine you're a computer engineer working on a new CPU design. What would the clock speed of your CPU measure?

• The number of cores in your CPU

• The size of cache in your CPU

• The number of instructions your CPU can execute per second

• The efficiency of communication between the cores of your CPU

John is a computer engineer and he is explaining to his friend the main advantage of having multiple cores in a CPU. What would he say?

• It increases the clock speed of the computer.

• It enlarges the cache size of the computer.

• It allows the computer to run multiple programs simultaneously.

• It improves the communication efficiency of the computer.

Imagine you are a computer engineer working on a new CPU design. You decide to double the number of cores in your design, expecting it to double the CPU's speed and efficiency. However, you find that this is not the case. Why doesn't doubling the number of cores directly lead to a doubling of the CPU's speed and efficiency?

• The cache size becomes insufficient to handle the increased number of cores

• The clock speed decreases due to the increased number of cores

• The communication between the increased number of cores becomes slower

• The programs running on the CPU are not designed to utilize the increased number of cores

During a Formula 1 race, what are some factors that could affect the overall speed of Lewis Hamilton's racing car?

• Horsepower, tires, weather conditions, driver's skill, and aerodynamics

• Clock speed, cache size, number of cores, and communication efficiency

• Graphics processing, sound processing, and specialized processors

• Main memory, gigahertz, and instruction cycles

Imagine you are a computer engineer. How would you compare the size of a cache to the size of the main memory in a computer system?

• The cache is like a large warehouse, while the main memory is like a small room

• The cache is like a room, while the main memory is also like a room of the same size

• The cache is like a small cupboard, while the main memory is like a large room

• The cache and the main memory are like two unrelated objects, like a car and a bicycle

John is a computer engineer and he is working on a project where he needs to use a chip with more than one core. What is the term used for such a chip?

• CPU

• Chip Multiprocessor (CMP)

• Graphics card

• Sound card

Imagine you're building a high-performance computer. What would you use specialized processors for in this scenario?

• To enhance the overall performance of the main CPU

• To regulate the clock speed of the main CPU

• To expand the cache size of the main CPU

• To facilitate efficient communication between CPU cores

Why would a tech company like Apple use specialized processors like the M1 chip in their devices?

• To decrease the overall performance of their devices

• To reduce the clock speed of their devices

• To increase the cache size of their devices

• To improve the overall performance of their devices