Major Trends Affecting Microprocessor Performance And Design

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

2.0 Introduction to Microprocessors

http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/nehalem-microprocessor-architecture-3.jpg

Figure Intel i7 Microprocessor.

Intel defines Microprocessors as the Central Processing Unit (CPU) also known as the brain of all computers.(Intel, What is Microprocessor?, PDF,2013) . "A microprocessor is sometimes called a logic chip, is a computer processor on a microchip." (Rouse.M,2006). The microprocessor is an incorporated circuit on a tiny silicon chip which contains thousands or millions of tiny on or off switches described as transistors. It also makes a machine do many useful tasks by using these circuit, data are manipulated in certain patterns that allows to be programmed by software. (Belarus.net, 2009)

In November 1970 the first microprocessor was introduced by Intel. The Microprocessor was invented by Intel engineers Federico Faqqin, Ted Hoff, and Stanley Mazor (Mary Bellis, Inventors of the Modern Computer; Intel 4004-The World’s First Single Chip Microprocessor, About.com Guide).

Intel 4004 was the first microprocessor introduced by Intel, it can run in speed of 108KHz. (Michael. D, Introduction to Microprocessors, 2007, tutorial5.com). This microprocessor is able to add, subtract and only do four (4) bits in a time and also powered on one of the first portable electronic calculators. . (Brain, Marshall. How Microprocessors Work, 2000, HowStuffWorks.com).

Figure The first microprocessor; Intel 4004.

(Image Source: http://newsroom.intel.com/docs/DOC-2383)

2.1 Major Trends Affecting Microprocessor Performance and Design

Over the years Intel has created many microprocessors to suite their customers’ needs and environment. However, with highly competitive processor, there are some major trends affecting the microprocessor performance such as:

Increasing number of Cores

Clock Speed

Number of Transistors

(Barb Goldworm, Technology trends in processors and servers, searchsystemschannel.techtarget.com,2007.)

(Marshall Brain, How Microprocessors Work, howstuffworks.com, 2000)

2.1.1 Increasing number of cores

Today, many computer users would like to have their desktops or PC’s to handle massive computing and visualization workloads. This can be only done using the powerful multi-core technology or using a multi-core processor.

Multi-core processors are referred as a single computing component with two or more independent central processing unit called "cores" (Multi-core processor, Wikipedia, 1980). The multi-core processor enables users to have boosted performance, improved power consumption and parallel processing that allows multiple tasks to be performed simultaneously. (Margaret Rouse, Multi-core processors, searchsystemschannel.techtarget.com, 2007)

The development of microprocessors for desktops and laptops today is expanding from core i3, core i5, and core i7 in present. This results in using several chips in the CPUs.http://www.pcgameshardware.com/screenshots/original/2009/12/Intel-CES-Core-i3-Core-i5-01.jpg

Figure The Intel core processors used in today’s laptops, PC’s and desktops.

(Image source: http://www.pcgameshardware.com/screenshots/original/2009/12/Intel-CES-Core-i3-Core-i5-01.jpg)

By the year 2017, Anant Agarwal; founder and chief executive of startup Tilera has estimated that it is estimated that embedded processors could sport 4,096 cores, server CPUs might have 512 cores and desktop chips could use 128 cores. (R.Merrit, CPU designers debate multi-core future, EE Times, 2008)

2.1.2 Clock Speed

Clock speed is defined as the frequency that a processor executes instructions or data is processed. The clock speed is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz) It is a quartz crystal which vibrates that send beat or pulse to each component that synchronized with it. (PC computer notes, 2003)

The speed of microprocessors measured in megahertz (MHz) processes one million instructions per second. Besides that, the microprocessor that runs in gigahertz (GHz) is able to process a billion instructions per second.

In modern technology, most CPU runs in gigahertz range. For instance a 3GHz Microprocessor and a 3.6GHz is faster than a 500MHz microprocessor as it six times slower. The speed of the computer is fast when the frequency of the microprocessor is higher.

(Damien, Hardware CPU Guide Part I: Factors That Affects a CPU’s Performance, maketecheasier.com, 2010)

2.1.3 Number of Transistors

The number of transistors available on the microprocessor has a massive effect on the performance of CPU; in the microprocessor 8088 takes about 15 clock cycles to execute instructions, with this we can assume that on one 16-bit multiplication of the 8088 processors it takes about 80 cycles.

"According to Moore’s Law, the number of transistors on a chip roughly doubles every two years. As a result the scale gets smaller and transistor counts increases at regular pace to provide improvements in integrated circuit functionality and performance while decreasing costs." (Intel; Moore’s Law Fun Facts, p1, 2013)

Figure Moore’s Law graph

(Image source: http://letshavetheconversation.blogspot.com/2011/11/moores-law-economics-of-abundance.html)

By increasing the number of transistors it allows a technology known as pipelining. The execution of instruction overlaps in the pipelined architecture. For instance, it might take five clock cycles to execute each of the instructions; the five instructions may be in different stages for execution with this we can deduce that one instruction is completed at every clock cycle.

Most modern processors have multiple instruction decoders with its very own pipeline that lets multiple instruction streams, where one instruction is completed at each clock cycle with a lot of transistors used in the microprocessors. (Marshall Brain, How Microprocessors work, howstuffworks.com, 2000)

2.2 Microprocessor Design Goals for Laptops, Servers, and Desktops and Embedded System.

Microprocessor in laptops, servers, desktops varies as they have unique form each other. Laptop is small and portable version that functions as a computer; it can be used anytime and anywhere. The Microprocessor design goal is to emphasize on power consumption. Laptop uses battery power, it would be inconvenient for laptop users to carry the battery adapter wherever they go the microprocessor in a laptop ensures that it consumes lesser power compared to a desktop computer. Besides that, the processors also helps in cooling the laptops as they produce a lot of heat when they are in use which might damage the internal hardware of the laptop, to ensure that the laptops to have the cooling requirement, the processors would allow the laptop to lower the clock speed and bus speed. The cooling requirements is also achieved, where the processors makes the laptop to run in a lower operating voltage which also helps in power consumption. (Erin Fenton, Differences Between a Laptop processor & a Desktop Processor; ehow.com, 2012)

A server is a computer or device on a network that works together with the network resources. (Vangie Beal, What is server? , webopedia.com, 2010).Generally serves runs up to 24*7 hours to function efficiently in a network and avoid disruption in the server may be disastrous then the failure of a desktop computer. The microprocessor design for a server ensures that the server is uptime, stable and always available and reliable to use by having larger cache memory, the cache memory in the server is higher than the desktop and embedded system. Usually in a network there would be the same type of instructions, with high cache memory the faster the instruction will be processed as the instruction are saved in cache memory. The microprocessor design implemented for server helps in controlling the heat released; The microprocessor relative size for a server is 2U (3.5-in thick) or 1U ( 1.75-in thick) size it permits the servers to implement large cooling system as it run 24*7. (Microprocessors Design Goal for System; Server, Oxybridge Writers,2013)

Whereas, a desktop computer is also personal computer that is used regularly at a single location and it is not portable. (Wikipedia, Desktop computer, 2013) The microprocessor design goal for a desktop would be to enable higher performance level, where multithreading concept is used to get the execution fast and efficiently. Moreover, to measure energy efficiency of computer hardware PPW; Performance per Watt is implemented to measure the rate that is delivered by the computer to ensure the every power of watt is consumed efficiently to ensure low power consumption. The microprocessor design goal for a desktop also ensures that it supports job scheduling, where it multitasks and performs more than one job at a time. (Microprocessors Design Goal for System; Desktop, Oxybridge Writers, 2013)

Embedded system is a computer system which is a part of the larger system household in a single microprocessor board. (Webopedia, embedded system, 2013) The embedded system is performed a specific dedicated task, for instance watch was only used to see time, but with today technology development, the watch does not only show time but incorporates with GPS, and music player and so on. The microprocessor design goal for an embedded system focuses on power consumption. The power consumption of an embedded microprocessor is on the relative size of the microprocessor; embedded system uses a very small amount power therefore this reduces the power consumption of the system. The microprocessor design goal of an embedded system would be the memory management, code density is known as the amount of space engaged by executable programs, in an embedded system the microprocessor is aimed to lower the code density. (Microprocessors Design Goal for System; Embedded System, Oxybridge Writers, 2013)

In conclusion, microprocessor has significance influence in today’s modern computers as users day to day task is ease with this small and powerful silicon chip. Many microprocessors are created for different purpose of system and by doing this newer systems would get to perform additional tasks which helps ease the user’s job for instance, future embedded system could increase their capability such as emphasizing on the cache design and bus architecture alike with the desktop by increasing the performance of the system by developing new embedded microprocessor design to work towards this goals. (Microprocessor Design Goal for System, Oxybridge Writers, 2013)