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Speed of the CPU

HARDWARE
SPECIFICATIONS ‘Brain’ of the computer

Determines how fast and how many instructions can be carried out

One ‘tick’ = one instruction

Contains a clock Faster the clock ticks – more instructions can be carried out

MHz – 1 million of instructions per second

Processor speeds in PC are measured in GHz – 1 billion of instructions per second
MHz(Mega Hertz) or GHz(Giga Hertz) Most PCs have a speed of 2 GHz or more

Core – single processing unit (dual, quad)

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Hardware Specification
Considerations Intel AMD

1. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) or Processor

Type of CPU Celeron Semron
1. Speed
2. CPU Type Pentium E Athlon 64 x 2
• Two main types of processors : Intel
2. Main Memory and AMD
1. Memory Capacity Core 2 Duo Phenom
2. Memory Type
3. Word Size Core 2 Quad Phenom II
4. Speed

3. Hard Disk Core i7

1. Storage Capacity
2. Speed

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Main Memory -RAM

• RAM – Random Access Memory

• Allows reading and writing
• High volatile memory (contents
are lost when the machine is

Processors
powered off)
• Used to store programs and data
that are being used or about to
be used
• Need to know and recognize:
• Capacity
• Type
• Word Size
• Speed

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RAM – Capacity
Other CPU Manufacturers

Determines the number of The greater the RAM Capacity the more
programs that can be run simultaneously
programs that a computer can This affects the performance of the
hold at a time computer

In modern PCs, memory capacity is measured in Gigabytes (GB)

and is at least 2 GB

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• Common memory types today:

• Static RAM (SRAM)
RAM speed indicates the amount of time that it
• Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
takes RAM to receive a request from the
• Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM) processor and then read or write data
RAM: • Single Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM • the faster the RAM, the faster the processing speed

Memory (SDR SDRAM) RAM speed is measured in Megahertz (MHz),

Type
• Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM
(DDR SDRAM, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4)
• Graphics Double Data Rate Synchronous
Dynamic RAM (GDDR SDRAM, GDDR2, GDDR3,
GDDR4, GDDR5)
• Flash Memory
RAM - Speed millions of cycles per second, so that it can be
compared to your processor's clock speed
For Dell desktops and laptops, memory
speed can range from the standard 1333MHz
all the way up to speeds of 2133MHz

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RAM – Word Size Examine the specifications of the computer

below: Dell Optiplex 755 Desktop Computer
Word size determines the number of bits • Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66Ghz CPU, 1 What is the name of the CPU?
that can be stored and processed at a time • 2GB DDR2 Memory,
by the CPU • 250GB Hard Drive, 2 What is the speed of the CPU?
• WiFi,
• DVD/CD-RW Optical Drive, 3 What is the size of RAM?
• Microsoft Windows XP Pro
PCs usually have word sizes of either 32-bit Operating System. (Featuring a
4 What type of memory is found
in this computer?
USB Keyboard and Mouse)
or 64-bit Computer Bundle With 17" LCD 5. What is the capacity of the
Monitor (models vary) hard drive?

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Hard Disk or Hard Disk Drive (HDD) • Hard disk speeds normally expressed as data
transfer rates or revolutions per minute (rpm)
• The data transfer rate measures the speed by
Main secondary storage device
which data can be transferred from the Hard
Disk to the CPU
Stores the Operating system, programs, documents, pictures, music and videos Hard Disk • Revolutions per minute indicate how fast the
Speed hard disk spins
If your hard drive is damaged, all data and information can be lost • In modern PCs, the hard disks have data
transfer rates around 1-3 Gigabit per second
Keeps data even when powered off
(Gb/sec)
• Hard Disks vary in speed from 5400 rpm to
Storage capacity 15000 rpm
Two main specifications to note:
Speed

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Hard Disk Storage

Capacity
• Storage capacity of a Hard Disk determines
the amount of information that it can store
for later use
System
• Capacities are measured in Gigabytes and Settings on
Terabytes ranging from 120 GB to >6TB
• Note that most modern laptops are moving PCs
away from the traditional mechanical drives
in favour of more durable and smaller solid
state options (SSD)

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