Computer Architecture By Chris Van Horn CPU Basics

Computer Architecture By Chris Van Horn

CPU Basics • “Brains of the Computer” • Fetch Execute Cycle • Instruction Branching

Control Unit • Manager • Sends signals to other devices telling them what to do

System Clock • Signals when it is ok to perform work • Cannot base CPU performance strictly by system clock • Computer A: 12 cycles/instruction 1 Ghz • Computer B: 3 cycles/instruction

Registers • User Registers • Control Registers – Program Counter – Instruction Register – Status Flag – Stack Pointer

ALU • Where the real work happens – – Adder Multiplier Shifter Etc.

The Bus • Provides Transportation – Data – Control Signals • 3 Parts of the Bus • Other Bus Types • Master/Slave relationship

Interrupts • Interrupts processor when something needs its attention • Threading

Pipelining • Works like an assembly line • Potential for large speed increase • Long vs. Short Pipelines • Drawbacks

Memory • Hierarchy – Registers – Cache • Level 1 • Level 2 – Main Memory – Magnetic Disks

Multi Core Fun • Why multi core? • Why not just jack up the clock speed?

Intel

Intel Multi-core Technology • Hyper-Threading • Dual Core • Core Duo

Hyper-Threading • Dual core for the poor • Processor runs two threads at once

Intel Dual Core • Two Complete Cores running at same frequency • Intel Pentium D – 2. 8 – 3. 4 GHz – FSB 800 MHz – Cache (per core) • 900 Series 2 MB • 800 Series 1 MB

Intel Core Duo • Replacement for Pentium M • Specs – 2 MB L 2 cache shared – 1. 5 – 2. 16 GHz – FSB 667 MHz

AMD

AMD Dual Core Technology • Design Started Early • Direct Connect Architecture • Operton Dual • Athlon Dual-Core X 2

Opteron • Specs – 1. 8 – 2. 4 GHz – L 1 cache 64 KB per core – L 2 cache 1 MB per core – FSB 1 GHz

Athlon Dual-Core X 2 • Specs – 2. 0 – 2. 4 GHz – L 1 Cache • 128 KB instruction • 128 KB data – L 2 Cache • 1 -2 MB per core – 1 GHz FSB

Dual-Core Duel • AMD challenges Intel to a Duel (Opteron Vs. Xeon) • Intel Refuses • Tests Run by SPEC (Standards Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation )

Test Results • AMD declared itself the winner • Lack of Results • Reporting may be skewed

CNET X 2 vs. Pentium D • CNET independent test • AMD won every round of tests • Why?

Tests Run • Everyday Computing – Office Productivity (Sys. Mark Scores) – Internet Content Creation (Sys. Mark Scores) • Gaming – Halflife 2(fps) • Multitasking – Encoding Video while Virus Scanner running (time to complete both) • Photo Editing – Photoshop (resizing large photos) • MP 3 Encoding – i. Tunes (time to encode album) • Video Encoding – Sorenson Squeeze 4 (time to encode video)

Price Vs. Performance