Hardware Processor Specifications didactic material 2 2 variant

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Name _____________________  Class __________________________

1.      Name two common brand names associated with the manufacture of CPU’s.

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2.      For the two brand names you listed above, find out the clock speed for their most recently released processor.

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3.      Why do people ‘overclock’ their computers?

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4.      What are the risks of overclocking?

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5.      Find and insert an image that represents the CPU.

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6.      Find and insert an image that represents overclocking.

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7.      What does ‘CPU’ stand for?

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8.      What is the purpose of the CPU?

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9.      Clock speed is measured in MHz. What is meant by the computer’s clock speed?

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10.  Identify and describe one factor that affects the performance of a CPU.

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11.  Describe the relationship between the fetch-execute cycle and clock speed.

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12.   

Answers

1)      Name two common brand names associated with the manufacture of CPU’s.

Intel

AMD

2)      For the two brand names you listed above, find out the clock speed for their most recently released processor.

Will vary depending on answers to above question and when this activity is completed.

3)      Why do people ‘overclock’ their computers?

To improve performance and make their computer work faster without the extra cost of upgrading their processor.

4)      What are the risks of overclocking?

Reduced lifespan of components.

Permanent damage to components if not completed properly.

5)      Find and insert an image that represents the CPU.

Any relevant image can be used, usually a photo of the CPU or a diagram representing its internal components.

6)      Find and insert an image that represents overclocking.

Any relevant image can be used, usually a photo of the CPU or BIOS screen showing overclocking adjustments being made.

7)      What does ‘CPU’ stand for?

Central Processing Unit.

8)      What is the purpose of the CPU?

It controls the main functions and operations of the computer.

9)      Clock speed is measured in MHz. What is meant by the computer’s clock speed?

The clock speed is the speed at which the computer processes data/executes instructions. The speed measures the cycles per second.

10)  Identify and describe one factor that affects the performance of a CPU.

Clock speed – the higher it is the faster the computer will work.

11)  Describe the relationship between the fetch-execute cycle and clock speed.

One clock cycle is one cycle of the fetch-execute cycle. The faster the speed the more instructions can be fetched and executed per second.