Topic 6 Resource Management
What are resources to manage?
- Primary memory (RAM), secondary storage (HDD, SSD, optical drives), processor
speed, bandwidth, screen resolution, sound processor, graphics processor, cache,
network connectivity.
Role Common capacities/ Effect of limited …
speeds
Primary ● Stores data for currently 4, 8, 16 GB - Fewer programs or processes can
memory running programs. run simultaneously.
(RAM) - Computers must rely on virtual
memory which is much slower.
Secondary ● Stores all data including the - HDD (hard disk - Limited virtual memory from RAM
storage OS. program files, and drive)- 500 GB, 1TB, to rely on.
multimedia data. 2TB - Limited number of programs and
● Used as virtual memory - SSD (solid state files can be stored and used.
when RAM is overloaded. drive)- 256 GB, 512 GB
- optical; CD: 650 MB,
DVD: 4.7 GB
Processor ● Handles all calculations - Speed is measured - All programs can run more slowly.
(CPU) and logical operations. in GHz (1 billion FDE - Any calculation-intensive
● Can contain multiple cores cycles per second) operations (ie: games, video
(ALUs) to conduct more - Common speeds: editors, graphic design, software,
operations per second. 2,2.4, 3.2 GHz etc..) run more slowly.
- Single processor:
sequential and slower
- Multiprocessor :
concurrent and faster
Bandwidth (bitrate): How much data can - Speed expressed - Slow data transfer across
(network be sent at the same time in in megabits/ networks.
capability) a given time frame. gigabits. - If accessing the internet through
- 100 Mbps= 100 a network, internet speeds will
megabits per be slower.
second= 100/8
(12.5 megabytes
per second).
- Broadband
(16-100 Mbps),
LAN (Gbps)
What are resources to manage?
- Primary memory (RAM), secondary storage (HDD, SSD, optical drives), processor
speed, bandwidth, screen resolution, sound processor, graphics processor, cache,
network connectivity.
Role Common capacities/ Effect of limited …
speeds
Primary ● Stores data for currently 4, 8, 16 GB - Fewer programs or processes can
memory running programs. run simultaneously.
(RAM) - Computers must rely on virtual
memory which is much slower.
Secondary ● Stores all data including the - HDD (hard disk - Limited virtual memory from RAM
storage OS. program files, and drive)- 500 GB, 1TB, to rely on.
multimedia data. 2TB - Limited number of programs and
● Used as virtual memory - SSD (solid state files can be stored and used.
when RAM is overloaded. drive)- 256 GB, 512 GB
- optical; CD: 650 MB,
DVD: 4.7 GB
Processor ● Handles all calculations - Speed is measured - All programs can run more slowly.
(CPU) and logical operations. in GHz (1 billion FDE - Any calculation-intensive
● Can contain multiple cores cycles per second) operations (ie: games, video
(ALUs) to conduct more - Common speeds: editors, graphic design, software,
operations per second. 2,2.4, 3.2 GHz etc..) run more slowly.
- Single processor:
sequential and slower
- Multiprocessor :
concurrent and faster
Bandwidth (bitrate): How much data can - Speed expressed - Slow data transfer across
(network be sent at the same time in in megabits/ networks.
capability) a given time frame. gigabits. - If accessing the internet through
- 100 Mbps= 100 a network, internet speeds will
megabits per be slower.
second= 100/8
(12.5 megabytes
per second).
- Broadband
(16-100 Mbps),
LAN (Gbps)
