Today’s modern computers are several times faster than those used for the first lunar mission in 1969. These technological marvels consist of different components that allow us to become productive and efficient at work.
Even with their current speed, scientists and researchers are still working on increasing the speed of today’s computers. These researchers focus on improving the individual components, particularly those that play a role in the speed of the computer. Here are some of the components that they can work on to increase the speed of a computer.
Central Processing Unit
The central processing unit or CPU is the brain of the computer, and it consists of the circuitry need to input, store, and release information. This component runs everything on the computer. The term clock speed refers to the speed of the CPU and is measured in gigahertz. So, a CPU running at 1GHz is slower in processing data when compared to a CPU running at 3GHz. The speed of the flow of data into different applications from the CPU affects the speed of the computer.
When businesses want to increase the speed of their computer, they can start with the CPU. They might want to have a customized PCB prototyping assembly to add the other components of the CPU, including the control unit, clock, and an arithmetic logic unit, among others.
Customizing the CPU allows you to use any material you want for the CPU and its components. You also have the chance to experiment with what you can add to make the CPU faster. When the CPU is fast, your computer will also see a marked increase in speed.
Storage Device
In the past, most computers used a hard drive to store data on the computer. The data is stored on a disk that spins when the computer retrieves the information. The spinning motion can go up to thousands of revolutions per second. The speed of the hard drive limits the speed at how any application on the computer can access the data. So, the faster the retrieval, the faster the computer. You can increase the speed of retrieval by using multiple hard drives on your computer.
But modern computers do not rely on hard drives anymore. Many of these computers use a solid-state drive or SSD. An SSD is a new type of storage device that is considerably faster than a hard disk. The low access times of an SSD, along with its throughput, allows computer speed to increase. Businesses that deal with huge amounts of data can benefit from using SSDs. Gaming enthusiasts will also see a marked increase in the speed of their computers when they use SSDs.
Aside from speed, SSDs are also smaller than a hard drive, which gives computer manufacturers some elbow room when designing computers. They are ideal for laptops due to their speed and size. Their storage capacity is also comparable to hard drives with high-end systems containing SSDs that can store up to 8TB of data. Since SSDs do not have any moving parts, unlike a hard drive, they are durable and can keep your data safe even if you drop your laptop on the floor. It also does not make any noise, unlike a hard drive.
The only major disadvantage of using an SSD is its price. They are considerably more expensive than a hard drive. But the benefits of using an SSD outweigh its cost.
Random Access Memory
Another component in the computer that can affect its speed is the Random Access Memory or RAM. Also referred to as memory, your computer’s RAM temporarily stores the data you are working on. This high-speed computer component allows you to randomly access bytes of memory without touching any other bytes.
The RAM of a computer can range from as low as 2GB to as high as 64GB. You can find them on smartphones, tablets, PCs, laptops, and services. It consists of integrated circuit chips featuring metal-oxide-semiconductor memory cells.
The two main types of RAMs are the Static Random Access Memory or SRAM and the Dynamic Random Access Memory or DRAM. SRAM is faster, denser, and uses less power. But it is also more expensive than the DRAM.
For most people, a device with 4GB RAM is suitable for their needs. These people use the device for word processing work and surfing the internet. On the other hand, people in the graphics and video creation business will need a bigger RAM for their computers to make their work faster. Some may be content with 32GB RAM, while others prefer 64GB RAM.
Upgrading the components of a computer can increase its speed and allow people to work faster when they are using their devices.
