Computer architecture Essay Example for Free

Computer architecture Essay Describe how analogue data can be converted and stored in computer systems Analogue data needs to be sampled in order to be processed by a computer. As computers deal in Ones and Zeros it can only record specific intervals. For example, when recording a sound that gradually gets louder over a minute, a digital recording could record the level of sound every second, but would lose the information between seconds. If the sound was sampled every half second, there would be half as much information lost from the original source, but file size would be doubled. This is the trade off that has to be made between file size and quality. Bit depth is the number of bits of information recorded per second . The higher the bit depth means, the higher the sample rate and this results in higher quality sound file. A good example of bit depth is in CD quality audio which has a bit depth of 16 bits and a sample rate of 44. 1 kHz. Task 3 (P5) Describe the key components of a computer architecture and how they interact 1. Data Buffer this is a region of memory used to temporarily hold data while it is being moved from one place to another. 2. Accumulator A An 8 bit CPU has 1 register called the accumulator, this holds temporary data e. g. the carry-out when you do addition. 3. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) this is the workhorse of the CPU because it carries out all the calculations. 4. Data Buses the mechanism that moves information around a computer. 5. Address Buffer this holds the address part of the instruction register, 6. Program Counter this contains the location of the next instruction to be executed and, therefore, keeps track of where the computer is up to in a program. 7. Instruction Register (IR) this divides the information it receives into two fields. One field in the IR contains the operation code that tells the CPU what operation is to be carried out. The other field, called the operand field, contains the address of the data to be used by the instruction. 8. Condition Code Register (CCR) this takes a snapshot of the state of the ALU after each instruction has been executed and records the state of the carry, negative, zero, and overflow flag-bits. In the above diagram the flag-bits are H, I, N, Z, V C. Task 4 (P6) Describe the features of a processor Multi-tasking. Multi-tasking is a method where multiple processes are dealt with at once sharing common processing recourses such as a CPU. It involves the CPU assigning which instructions to be carried out first but it only focuses on one instruction at a time. Pipelining Pipelining is a method in which the Processor begins to execute a second instruction before the first has finished. Every pipeline is divided into segments and each segment can be ran along side each other. When each segment completes its task it moves on to the next. Cache (Level 1 and Level 2) Cache is a portion of memory made of high-speed static RAM (SRAM). As a result Cache memory is much more efficient than the main memory (RAM) which is dynamic RAM (DRAM) that runs slower but also cheaper. The cache is a smaller, faster memory which stores copies of the data from the most frequently used main memory locations. DRAM is dynamic in that, unlike SRAM, it needs to have its storage cells refreshed or given a new electronic charge every few milliseconds. SRAM does not need refreshing because it operates on the principle of moving current that is switched in one of two directions rather than a storage cell that holds a charge in place. If the computer processor can find the data it needs for its next operation in cache memory, it will save time compared to having to get it from random access memory. Level 1 cache is normally built on to the processor chip. It is extensively used for all sorts of purposes such as data fetching, data shifting and data loops, storing only small amounts of data. Level 2 cache is normally located on the motherboard. L2 cache stores much more data, coming usually from the L1 cache. L2 cache can be up to sixteen times the size of L1 cache; this also means that it takes up much more room so it has to be located on the motherboard. Clock Rate The clock rate is the speed at which a processor clock oscillates constantly from a one to a zero, this is measured in hertz. The clock rates speed is determined by an oscillator crystal and amplifier circuit inside a clock generator circuit. The limiting factor of the clock rate is the time it takes for the signal line to settle down from its on state to off state. The Clock rate is also as fast as L2 cache. Task 5 (P7) Describe the operation of logic gates using truth tables NOT Â  AND (2 inputs) OR (2 inputs) Consider how these three main gates can be combined. NOR (2 inputs) NOT Logic Gate also known as (Inverter) The output is true when only one input is false. Otherwise, the output is false. A Not gate is a logic gate which reverses the state of the input. AND Logic Gate The output is true when both inputs are true. Otherwise, the output is false. OR Logic Gate The output is true if either one or both of the inputs are true. If both inputs are false, then the output is false. These three main logic gates can be used to make other possible combinations of logic gates such as a NOR gate. NOR Logic Gate. The NOR gate is a combination of an OR gate followed by an inverter. The output is true if both inputs are false. Otherwise, the output is false. Task 6 (M1) Explain using examples how data travels around the processor Task 7 (M2) Create logic circuits using simple logic gates and provide truth tables This is a circuit that shows binary addition. Here are a few examples of the circuit being carried out. The Red circle/circles show input and Green circle/circles show output data This can be shown in the truth tables below. Task 8 (M4) Provide a description of both astable and bistable flip- flops. A flip-flop is an electrical circuit that can be in one of two states. Astable flip flop Astable flip flop is an oscillator which regularly switches states all the time. It has one 1 input and 1 Output. It can be used as a clock. Bistable flip flop Bistable flip flop is a memory device/gate which keeps one state indefinitely while it has power it also has 2 inputs and 2 outputs. The difference between An Astable and Bistable flip flops. A bistable flip-flop is a multivibrator with two stable states and can be put into either of its two states and it will stay like that. An example of this could be: A simple light switch; turn it on, it stays on, turn it off, it stays off. Task 9 (D1) Create complex logic circuits made up of arrays of simple logic circuits. To produce an addition of two numbers each of four bits in length we must first. You can add two numbers together each four bit in length by extending the first full adders carry out to another full adder and so on. Until you get 4 full adders each following on from the last carry out. The way a full adder works: The circuit adds two bits Input A and Input B, taking into account the previous carry in, to give the Sum, and the carry out. Now we know how a full adder works we can now relate this to the idea of 4 full adders joined together by the last carry out and the diagram below illustrates this. Diagram 1 These diagrams (below) will show you how you can add two four bit binary numbers together using a logic circuit. Example 1 Binary 1111+ 1111 ______ 11110 These binary numbers with value of 1 stand for both switches (The inputs i. e. the two four bit numbers added together) and the sum which in this case are shown by the flashing of LED lights (The sum is the output). 0 means no switch or light is active. The first line of inputs for this study will always be A4,A3,A2,A1 The second line of inputs for this study will always be B4,B3,B2,B1 these two numbers will be added together Then it is a long underscore followed by Carrys C3,C2,C1 directly underneath And then finally the output sum shown as O Task 10 (D2) Compare and contrast two different processors I will compare the AMD Opteron quad core and the Intel core 2 quad processor q9650. AMD Opteron quad core 64-bit Computing Yes L2 cache 512kb x4 L3 cache 2mb Clock Speed 2. 1Ghz Special Features Rapid Virtualization Indexing AMD Smart Fetch Technology Front Side Bus (FSB) Speed 2000Mhz Watts 45 Price i 165 new Intel core 2 quad processor q9650 64-bit Computing Yes L2 cache 12mb Clock Speed 3Ghz Special Features Intel Virtualization Technology Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology Front Side Bus (FSB) Speed 1533Mhz. Watts 65 Price i 223 new Key components: Front Side Bus The Front Side Bus allows the components to send and receive data from the CPU to the North Bridge and vise versa. The faster a computers bus speed, the faster it will operate, but a fast bus speed cant make up for a slow Clock Speed. Clock Speed The Clock Speed is the speed at which a microprocessor executes instructions these clock cycles per second are measured in hertz. Special Features: Virtualization -Virtualization also known as a virtual machine makes it possible to run multiple operating systems on one computer. SpeedStep Technology SpeedStep Technology is built into some new Intel processors this can be used to change the clock speed by using a piece of software. Speed Step Technology allows the processor to keep up with performed operations. It greatly reduces power consumption and heat loss. Smart Fetch Technology Smart Fetch Technology allows the processor core to enter a halt state and draw less power, which reduces CPU power consumption. Recommendation: Both processors have Quad-Core technology and 64 bit computing, however the difference is in the Clock speed, Cache memory and the extra features. Both processors have similar special features such as the AMD Rapid Virtualization Indexing and the Intel Virtualization Technology. Although the Intel core 2 quad processor q9650 has no L3 cache I think that the higher clock speed and L2 cache more than makes up for not having any L3 cache. Not to mention the Intel core 2 quad processor q9650 has Speed Step Technology which makes for a much greater performance. The Intel core 2 quad processor q9650 is more expensive but it is a price worth paying for such a greater performance.

Loss of Dignity in Dulce et Decorum est and Refugee Blues :: essays research papers

Human dignity, every person in the world has at least some sense of human dignity, whether they choose to show it, however pitiful they think they are, every person has sense of dignity, of value. Losing one’s dignity can be painful, more painful than a physical blow. In Dulce et Decorum est, the writer, Wilfred Owen was a soldier fighting in World War One. He is writing about the horrors of being gassed by the enemy after fighting in the front lines, and ‘the old lie’: Dulce et Decorum est Pro Patria Mori, It is sweet and right to die for your country. Refugee Blues was written just before World War Two by W.H. Auden, who is writing about the Jews being exiled from Germany which ultimately ended up with them being hunted down even before the events of the Holocaust actually happened. In both poems, the poems are written in a first person perspective which gives the reader a sense of participation, especially in Refugee Blues, where at the end of each stanza the words ‘my dear’ is written. In Dulce et Decorum est, the initial lines of the poem states that the marching soldiers were, ‘Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,’ this takes the nobility out of war, and of course, giving the readers at that time period a sense of uncertainty to the title of the poem. The young soldiers are pictured to have lost their youth, health, and most importantly, their dignity. This is similar to how the Jews in Refugee Blues were like in the beginning of the poem, where they were homeless and exiled, like beggars, as in most societies beggars are not respected as they cannot support themselves without people giving them money. Therefore beggars must suffer losing their dignity in order to survive. Also, in Dulce et Decorum est, it shows that the soldiers were trying to get away from the front lines, ‘till on the haunting flares we turned our backs’. This is as if they were frightened of what lay behind them due to the word ‘haunting’, and in Refugee Blues this is displayed throughout the entire poem as the Jews were running away from Germany, but is really obvious in the second stanza. Running away from something you fear is also a form of loss of human dignity as it shows that you are frightened of the enemy and that they have power over you.

Net Present Value, Mergers and Acquisitions Essay

One financial goal of financial managers is to maximize the shareholders’ wealth. Therefore, merger and acquisition decisions should be consistent with shareholder wealth maximization, and financial characteristics of the targets to consider in the decision-making process. The net present value method is one of the useful methods that help financial managers to maximize shareholders’ wealth. The capital budgeting decision mergers Acquisitions Net Present Value Financial managers are working for the shareholders and their primary goal is profit maximization in order to maximize the wealth of the company and the shareholders. The Capital budgeting decision focuses on the net present value method, the payback period, and the internal rate of return method. This paper has two parts, where the first aspect relates to the capital budgeting decision. This paper will recommend if Goggle should accept a new project by using the net present value method. Next, the paper will discuss Google’s potential acquisition of Groupon and if it will add value to the shareholders of both corporations. Finally, this paper will make a recommendation to Goggle and Groupon on the best course of action for a merger or acquisition. Part I First, a financial manger has to make optimal decisions they will benefit the company. A financial manger has to know how to make money and smart investments in order to raise capital and put the money back into the company. The net present value is an important concept and useful tool to use to help financial managers make informed financial decisions. For instance, the net present value concept works with the capital budgeting decision to make an informed decision on a project and the potential for profits. In addition, net present value compares the value of a dollar today to the value of that same dollar in the future, taking inflation and returns into account because dollar today is worth more than a dollar in the future. The time value of money concept takes into considerations that money has a different buying power in the future because of inflation and changes in interest rates. For example, if the net present value of a project is positive, then the company should accept the project, but if the net present value of the project is negative then the company should not accept the project. Calculations 1) Calculate present value (PV) of cash inflow (CF) Initial Cash Outflow PV of CF = CF1 / (1+r)1 + CF2 / (1+r)2 + CF3 / (1+r)3 + CF4 / (1+r)4 + CF5 / (1+r)5 PV of CF= $1,750,000 (1+ 2) Calculate NPV NPV = Total PV of CF – Initial cash outflow -Initial cash outflow + Total PV of CF r = Discount rate (14%) Part II Rumors about potential mergers and acquisitions are often a hot topic in the business press. Mergers and acquisitions can have advantages and disadvantages for a company because it has both rewards and risks. Companies want to have successful and profitable mergers that would have value to their shareholders. â€Å"One of the most common motives for mergers is growth. There are two broad ways a firm can grow. The first is through internal growth. This can be slow and ineffective if a firm is seeking to take advantage of a window of opportunity in which it has a short-term advantage over competitors. The faster alternative is to merge and acquire the necessary resources to achieve competitive goals† ( Google’s potential acquisition of Groupon would add value to the shareholders of both corporations, especially Groupon. The recent price per share for Google is $1,130. 18 and the recent price per share for Groupon is $11. 56. The Groupon company was a new company that made over one billion dollars in sale their first year in business. In 2010, when Groupon first started it was a new idea and a new site that offered daily deals. Google wanted to buy Groupon for six billion dollars but the deal â€Å"the daily-deals site that became the quickest firm to rack up $1 billion in sales and the second-quickest, behind video behemoth YouTube, to hit a $1 billion valuation. Online acquisitions didn’t get any bigger than this† (Sennett, 2012). The impact on Google shareholders would be a negative impact on their stock. For example, â€Å"there is also a perception in the market that Google would not acquire Groupon as it will have a negative impact on Google’s stock. This might be true for the shorter-term but not for the longer-term period as Groupon grows and delivers better performance† (Seeking Alpha, 2012). In addition, if Google was to acquire Groupon then Google will face tax losses. The impact on Groupon shareholders would add value to the company because Google would back it and the company could come up with more innovative ways to keep and attract new customers. The business concept for Groupon could lead to duplications by other businesses. Groupon stock would increase and the company could have made millions of dollars off a merger with Google, since Google is already a profitable company. The financial conditions of both corporations prior to the merger were outstanding. For example, Groupon had an annual revenue of more than $500 million and the company was estimated at $1. 4 billion. On the other hand, Google was already a successful company with shares of over $600. â€Å"Google Investors, however, seemed focused on Groupon’s valuation, which was estimated at 1. 4 billion during its last fund-raising round in April. Shares in Google fell 4. 5 percent, to $555. 71; the stock was battered by news that European regulators had opened an antitrust investigation† (Rusli, Worthham, 2010). Google and the Groupon Company would be more profitable if they remain separate companies because Google was already very successful. For instance, Groupon business model could be easily copied. In addition, Groupon expanded to fast, and their stock sold for over $20 then dropped to $13 in less than a year. For example, the leaders at Grouon wanted to grow the company as fast as possible, and then cash out on the company. â€Å"This was an outrageous offer for a company that had reported just $30 million in revenue for all of 2009, and any ordinary startup would have taken it. But Groupon’s growth in 2010 was off the charts, and bankers from Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs were salivating at the prospect of leading its public offering. Goldman chief Lloyd Blankfein made the trip to Chicago personally to woo Groupon. â€Å"The bankers broke out all these charts,† said a source familiar with the meetings. â€Å"They showed Eric a growth matrix that projected Groupon would be worth $25 billion in a few years. When he saw that, Google was toast† (Popper, 2013). Finally, a merger between Groupon and Google could take years because of the antitrust laws. An acquisition is successful when the company has a clear plan with specific objectives and a timeline to complete the deal. In addition, successful acquisitions also include a way to finance the acquisition whether it is equity financing, cash reserves, or debt financing. A merger is successful when there is effective communication, effective leadership, and clear objectives and planning. In addition, successful mergers also involves the elimination of power struggles and Potential pitfalls – might the combined entity actually be less profitable than either company operating independently? What are the risk factors with this potential acquisition? Explain and discuss financing options for financing mergers and acquisitions â€Å"Even though bidding firms will pay a premium to acquire resources through mergers, this total cost is not necessarily more expensive than internal growth, in which the firm has to incur all of the costs that the normal trial and error process may impose. While there are exceptions, in the vast majority of cases growth through mergers and acquisitions is significantly faster than through internal means† Apply principles of risk and valuation analysis to mergers and acquisitions

Rousseau Amour Propre - 2047 Words

Daniel Davis Philosophy D 12/01/11 What is amour-propre? What role does it play, according to Rousseau, in the Discourse on Inequality? Tutor: Robert Cowan In May 1755, Jean Jacques Rousseau’s Discourse on the Origin of Inequality was published. The Discourse challenged contemporary philosophers in regards to the nature of man, and the fundamental principles of inequality. He highlighted that the inequality in current society developed due to the increase amour-propre has had on individuals. Examining amour-propre shows that it is fundamentally much more complex than simply being misconstrued as vanity; it could be described as a range of things such as pride, aggrandizement and prestige within society. It has†¦show more content†¦As amour-propre is the main drive for distinction and self-importance, competition between humans becomes more violent and deceitful which creates a greater degree of inequality within society. Moreover, as the sentiment is an artificial and reflective trait, it could be described as morally unjustified. The artificial trait is highlighted by Rousseau when he writes ‘’amour-propre is a purely relative and factitious feeling which arises in the state of society’’ (Rousseau, f/n pg.73); it is due to the need for comparison with other human beings that it arises only in society and the coming together of human beings. It is this correlation that the trait has with society that leads it to having a significant role within the development of society. The development of amour-propre has played a pivotal role within society: Rousseau believes it is solely responsible for the ills, and inspires all evil in modern society. Civil society was founded when ‘’the first man who, having enclosed a piece of ground, bethought himself of saying ‘This is mine’, and found people simple enough to believe him’’ (Rousseau pg.84). The state of civil society could not have happened overnight, that leap would require great conceptual development in humans, but from the moment that men started staying in communities was the first real sign in the development of amour-propre;