BTEC Level 3 IT - Unit 2 - M3

Evaluating the performance of computer systems - Unit 2 - M3

Evaluating the performance of computer systems is important in order to be
able to check that they are performing at the level that they should be.
Evaluating the performance of computer systems can help to detect incorrect
setting like the RAM running slower than expected or the software not using
the RAM to its full capacity. Another reason to evaluate the performance of
computer systems is for anti-fraud, so you can ensure that you are actually
sold what you pay for; there are people that sell RAM and say that its 8GB
when its only 4GB. Also, to be able to compare computer systems to see the
difference in performance. Furthermore, to test things like an upgrade in RAM,
when you evaluate the performance of the computer system you can see if the
upgrade has made any impact or not.

Gordon Moore who is the co-founder of intel who made an observation that
the number of transistors on a chip doubles every year and the costs are
halved. This observation is called Moore’s law. Gordon Moore recognised that
the number of transistors per square inch on integrated circuits had doubled
every year since their invention. Moor’s law is the prediction that this will
continue to happen as the future goes on. Although it is unlikely that this
growth will continue indefinitely, most expect it to only last for another two
decades whereas others think that it reached its limitations in 2017 and has
now slowed down. Below is a graph that demonstrates Moore’s law.