![\"Fastest](\"http:\/\/ruthtrumpold.id.au\/blogs\/designtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/processor.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Source:<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.techrepublic.com\/blog\/classic-tech\/the-80s-supercomputer-thats-sitting-in-your-lap\/189<\/p>\n
CPUs or central processing units play a large role in the speed at which computers deal with information and give meaningful output. Today, the fastest running processor on the market is the Intel Core I7 Extreme Edition at 3.47 GHz. Giga Hertz (GHz) are used to measure the performance of a computer in terms of cycles per second. By comparison with past processors such the 486DX\/2 66, the fastest desktop processor on the market in the late 1980s which ran at 33 MHz, and the fastest super computer of the late 1980s the Cray Y-MP C90, a modern day low end laptop out performs both at only a fraction of the price. Innovation allows the processing speed of computers to continue increasing while at the same time making faster processors cheaper. Every few years, a new high end processor hits the market that has a higher cycle rate than previous models.<\/p>\n
An interesting development in processors is the rate at which improvements are made. Computers are becoming faster at an increasing rate. The time between each improvement in computer speed is becoming increasingly less. Following data patterns from the 1980s, the difference in processing speed of a top quality desktop to a top quality super computer was about 1:30. Although now the difference is greater, using those trends it is\u00a0 possible to predict that in 20 years desktop computers will also perform better than today’s fastest supercomputers made by IBM.<\/p>\n
Source:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.techrepublic.com\/blog\/classic-tech\/the-80s-supercomputer-thats-sitting-in-your-lap\/189<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>