Web Research Project

The volatile memory in your computer, otherwise known as random access memory (RAM), is used for the temporary storage of data and instructions needed by the CPU. Adding additional RAM to your system is often one of the cheapest and most effective upgrades you can perform since it helps speed the transfer of data to the CPU. As with most other computer components, RAM has grown and evolved over the years, and a variety of types are now designed for specific purposes.

Use the Internet to research the history and evolution of RAM and explain the different types of RAM that are currently available. Write a brief paper that includes the answers to the following questions:

• To whom, and when, was the first patent granted for RAM?
• What are the various types of RAM and what are their key features? What type of system is each typically used for?
• What is the difference between SIMM and DIMM?
• What is parity?
• What is the most common form of RAM? Are new forms becoming available? If so, provide details.
• How can you determine the type of RAM used in a particular computer, and why is it important to know this?
• How can you tell how much RAM is installed on a system and how much more can be added? Must RAM always be installed in pairs?
• Is there a difference between RAM for Macs and RAM for Windows?
• Does the new Windows Vista operating system require a different type of RAM?

Suggested Web Sites:
http://compreviews.about.com/od/cpus/a/RAMGuidePt1.htm
http://inventors.about.com/od/rstartinventions/a/Ram.htm
http://www.crucial.com
http://www.fonerbooks.com/r_ram.htm
http://www.kitchentablecomputers.com/ram1.htm

Suggested Keywords:
Random Access Memory, RAM, History of RAM, Replacing RAM, Computer Memory

Gordon Moore, the cofounder of processor manufacturer Intel, predicted more than 40 years ago that the number of transistors on a processor would double every 18 months. So far this theory, known as Moore’s Law, has been surprisingly accurate. More than once over the last 40 years, experts have believed that the theory had finally come to an end—surely no further improvement to CPUs would be possible. And yet, processors continue to grow smaller while becoming more powerful.

Use the Internet to research the background of CPUs and the path they’ve taken thus far. Create a visual timeline for your results, then explore the future of the CPU. Do you think that the physical limitations of the CPU will finally prevent further improvements? How small is too small? What new routes do experts think processors will take going forward? Did you find any technologies that seemed promising but failed to follow through? Write a brief paper summarizing your findings.

Suggested Web Sites:
http://www.beyond3d.com/content/articles/31
http://www.geeks.com/techtips/2005/techtips-NOV22-05.htm
http://www.intel.com/technology/mooreslaw/index.htm
http://www.pcmech.com/show/processors/35
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/jun06/3649

Suggested Keywords:
Moore’s Law, History of the CPU, Evolution of the CPU, Future of the CPU, Microprocessor, Processor, CPU Timeline

“Faster than a speeding bullet, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound…” Well, perhaps supercomputers can’t compete with all of Superman’s abilities, but can Superman process 280 trillion operations per second? The equivalent of 280.6 teraflops—that’s how fast the world’s fastest supercomputer is. What can supercomputers possibly do that requires that much speed?

Use the Internet and the TOP500 list of fastest supercomputers (found at http://www.top500.org) to explore three of the world’s fastest supercomputers. Write a brief paper that includes the specifications (i.e., how many processors, how much memory, etc.) of each supercomputer and what its benchmark performance speed was. What is each supercomputer’s current ranking? What position did each hold the last time the list was published? Where are each of these computers located? What is it being used for? What do you think of the projects—are they essential or important enough to justify all that power?

Suggested Web Sites:
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2007/06/26/225052/ibm-triples-performance-of-worlds-fastest-computer.htm
http://www.gizmag.com/go/7511
http://www.hpcwire.com/hpc/1642733.html
http://www.top500.org

Suggested Keywords:
Supercomputer, Fastest Computer, Teraflop, Supercomputer Projects

As the price of dual-core processor systems falls, they are becoming more common in personal home computers. However, it’s important not to confuse dual-core processors with dual processors. Remember that dual-core processors are actually one chip with two parallel processing paths, whereas dual processors are two separate chips attached to the motherboard.

Your task in this project is to research prices on systems with dual-core processors. Find at least three computer manufacturers that design systems with this chip. Compare and contrast the price of dual-core processor systems versus single-processor systems from each manufacturer you use in your research. Write a brief summary of your findings and include a closing paragraph on the benefits of the dual-core processor design for the personal computer user.

Suggested Web Sites:
http://www.bestpricecomputers.ltd.uk/guides/dual-core.htm
http://www.technudgelive.com/2006/11/processor-core-communication.html
http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Hardware_Software/2005/dual_core.asp
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-dual-core-processor.htm

Suggested Keywords:
Dual-Core Processor, Dual-Core CPU, Dual-Core Processor Design, Dual-Core Processor Computer, Dual-Core Processor System