THE CPU INSIDE PART 2
Barbara
Alvear #1 9B
MULTICORE TO CLUSTER P 72-73
This way of processing resources of multiples serves can be grouped in a cluster to improve
rendering speeds in lifelike computer graphics or calculate the sums of complex financial
trading computations more quickly.
Google uses a cluster of thousands of PCs to handle hundred of millions of search queries a
day. Server clusters are also used for reliability reasons: If one machine in a clusters shuts
down because of errors, or to be serviced, the other serves can pick up the slack.
Parallel processing (sometimes called symmetric multiprocessing or just multiprocessing in
the PC world) has been used in high-end serves and workstations for some time. The threaded
processing in multicore CPUs is like a microscopic version of parallel processing sued in some
of the world’s biggest computing networks.
COMPUTER’S MEMORY P 73-75
The CPU’s main job is to
follow the instructions
encoded in programs.
The CPU can handle only
one instruction and a few
pieces of data at a time.
The computer need a place
to store the rest of the
program and data until the
processor is ready for them.
That's what RAM is for.
Random access memory
(RAM) is the most common
type of primary storage, or
computer memory.
RAM chips contain circuits
that store program
instructions and data
temporarily.
The computer dives each
RAM chip into many equalsized memory locations.
Memory locations have
uniqe addresses to the
computer can tell them
apart when it is instructed to
save or retireve infromation.
POPULAR CPU´S
Intel Xscale
Mobile and embedded devices
ARM (variations manufactured by many companies; for example, Apple's A4)
Embedded devices, MP3 players, many smart phones and mobile handheld devices, gaming
devices
Intel Atom
Netbooks, mobile phones, PDA’s, handheld game consoles, computer peripherals
Cell processor
Game machines, HDTVs, gaming servers, mainframes, supercomputers
Tilera TILEGX lines
Vdieo conferencing, wireless base stations, high-end network controllers
HOW MEMORY WORKS P 77-78
Memory is the work are for
the CPU to execute
instructions or manipulate
data, these instructions or
data must be loaded into
memory.
The CPU can store
information into RAM
and retrieve information
from RAM. The
information in RAM may
include program
instructions, numbers
for arithmetic, codes
representing text
characters, digital
codes representing
pictures, and other
kinds of data.
Bytes of memory have
unique addresses that
identify them and help
the CPU keep track of
where things are
stored. PCs contain a
large amounts of RAM
and ROM
BUSES, PARTS AND PERRIPHERALS P 78 79
In a desktop computer, the CPU, memory chips
and other key components are attached to the
motherboard.
Information travels between components on the
motherboard throught groups of wire called
internal buses, or just beses. Buses typically
have 32 or 64 wires, or data paths.
Buses connect to storage devices in bays-open
areas in the system box for disk drives and other
devices.Buses alfo connnect to espansion slotos
inside the computer’s housing. Users can
customize their computers by inserting specialpurpose circuti board called expansion cards
Buses also connect to ports-sockets on the
outside of the computer chassis. These ports
are generally sued to attach peripheralsexternal devices that enable the CPU to
communicate with the outside world and store
information. The peripherals are connected to
the ports through external buses-cables
designed to transmit data back and forth
between computers and peripherals
TOMORROW´S COMPUTER P80
Researchers are working on
a variety of fronts to
produce future generations
of computers that are
smaller, faster, more
powerful, and more energy
efficient that today´s
Nanontechnology
breakthroughs may be
steppingstone on the road
to quantum computerscomputers based on
properties of atoms and
their nuclei and the laws of
quantum mechanics.
Today’s cutting edge chips
employ nanotechnologytechnology that approaches the
molecular or atomic level. Many
researchers believe carbonbased nanoscale processor could
be much smaller and consume
far less electricity that
conventional silicon-based
microprocessors. A one-atomthink sheet of carbon known as
graphene shows promise as a
material for making future
processors
Another possibility for
future CPUs is the optical
computer-which transmits
information in light waves
rather than in electrical
pulses
THE CLOCK OF THE LONG NOW
The Clock’s work
consist of a binary
digital-mechanical
system which is so
accurate and
revolutionary that we
have patented several
of its elements.
The Long Now
Foundations uses fivedigits dates, the extra
zero is to solve the
deca-millennium bug.
In the meantime Hillis
and Rose continue to
experiment with everlarger prototype
Clocks.
The point is to explore
whatever may be
helpful for thinking,
understanding and
acting responsibly over
lone periods of time.
Long Now added a
Library dimension with
the realization of the
need for content to go
along with the longterm context provided
by the Clock-a library
of the deep future, for
the deep future.
ANSWER QUESTIONS P 81
Yes because
it helps
people to do
things easier
Do you think
the Long Now
Lock is a
good idea?
Why or why
not?
Can you think
of other ways
to encourage
long-term
thinking?
Yes,
computers