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04 Computer Speeds and Units

The document discusses various topics related to computer foundations including memory units, CPU access to memory, CPU speed, and 32-bit vs 64-bit systems. It defines bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, and larger units of digital information storage. It describes how the CPU uses registers, cache, and RAM to access data at different speeds. It explains that CPU clock speed is measured in gigahertz and impacts performance. It outlines the key differences between 32-bit and 64-bit systems in terms of memory allocation, processing power, and compatible operating systems and software.

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Hammami Salah
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44 views13 pages

04 Computer Speeds and Units

The document discusses various topics related to computer foundations including memory units, CPU access to memory, CPU speed, and 32-bit vs 64-bit systems. It defines bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, and larger units of digital information storage. It describes how the CPU uses registers, cache, and RAM to access data at different speeds. It explains that CPU clock speed is measured in gigahertz and impacts performance. It outlines the key differences between 32-bit and 64-bit systems in terms of memory allocation, processing power, and compatible operating systems and software.

Uploaded by

Hammami Salah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Computer Foundations

Memory Units
Memory Units…
Bit
8 Bits
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,024
Text Document

1,024
1 Byte Image, Song

1,024
There are more: Movie, Flash Memory

• Petabyte (PB) 10^15 (Facebook Servers 10+ PBs) 1,024


• Exabyte (EB) 10^18 (amount of data transfer over the internet) Large Storge HDD
• Zettabyte (ZB) 10^21 (whole data in the world just a few ZB)
• Yottabyte (YB) 10^24 (Huge, No practical use)
Computer Foundations

CPU Access to Memory


CPU

Instantly available data


Registers

Temporary Simi instantly available data

Makes Access to data much faster

Slow access to data

Memory Types
Computer Foundations

CPU Speed
hundreds of millions or
even billions of transistors
CPU

CPU Speed Transistor

Transistor is a binary switch


prevents or allows electricity.

• Higher clock speed means a faster CPU (within the same generation)
• Clock speed (also “clock rate” or “frequency”) is one of the most significant.
• A CPU with a clock speed of 3.2 GHz executes 3.2 billion cycles per second.

frequency During each cycle, billions


of transistors within the
processor open and close.
Hertz HZ Cycles per second
(Clock Cycle)
Computer Foundations

32-Bit vs 64-Bit
32-Bit VS 64-Bit

Less processing power, older, slower, and less secure More processing power, newer, faster, and more secure

2^32 2^64
(or 4,294,967,296) bytes (or 18,446,744,073,709,551,616) bytes

Can allocate only 4GB of memory (RAM) Diffrences Can allocate much more RAM

Referred to as x86 or x86-32 Referred to as x64 or x86-64

Can only run a 32-bit operating system and 32-bit Can run both 64-bit and 32-bit
software operating systems and software

Note: if you have installed 32-bit operating system on a 64-bit computer,


then it can run 32-bit software only.

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