Platform Technologies: Computer System Design, Performance & Execution

This assignment delves into various aspects of computer systems, starting with an analysis of the factors that influence computer performance, such as CPU speed, RAM size, hard disk speed and space, multitasking, graphics card type, and file defragmentation. It then elucidates the process of program execution, from loading the operating system to executing a program from the main memory. The assignment further includes practical number conversions, specifically converting decimal numbers to binary and hexadecimal, as well as converting binary to decimal. Additionally, it covers the conversion of a decimal number to IEEE754 floating-point format in hexadecimal, providing a comprehensive overview of fundamental computer system concepts. Desklib provides a platform for students to access past papers and solved assignments for further learning.

Running head: PLATFORM TECHNOLOGIES
Design and build a Computer System
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

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PLATFORM TECHNOLOGIES
Part A: Introduction and background about computer’s performance
Q1 – Factors affecting Computers Performance
The following are the factors that affects the performance of the computer:
1. CPU Speed – The clock speed of the CPU is also known as the speed of the CPU and it is the
frequency for execution of instruction or frequency for processing data by the CPU. The
measurement is done in millions of cycles /second or MHz. If the CPU speed is more then the
computer performance is positively affected for carrying processing function at a faster
speed.
2. RAM size – it is used for storing data that is currently used by the computer and the data in
the RAM can be retrieved faster. Thus the larger size of the RAM means faster performance
than the smaller size.
3. Hard Disk Speed – The read write speed of the hard disk varies for different manufacturer
and the higher speed of hard disk can improve the performance of the computer.
4. Space of Hard disk – Faster performance can be achieved with the bigger space and smaller
size can reduce performance [2]. If the hard drive is filled with data then most of the
memory would be used and thus leaving less amount of memory for processor operation.
5. Multiple application running on computer – The computer may slow down due to multi-
tasking since the memory is used for supporting one or more application compared when an
application uses major part of the memory. Thus when more than one application runs the
performance of the computer gets slower.
6. Graphics card type – The quality of animation and pictures are the main factors and thus if
many graphics are processed and the computer’s graphics card is weak the performance
would be slow.
7. Defragmentation files – The files that are broken down into smaller segment and takes long
time for reading the computer needs to defragment them and can slower the performance
of the computer.
Q2 – Process of a program execution in a computer.
When a computer is turned on the RAM is empty and the computer transfer the operating system
from hard disk to main memory.
 When the operating system is loaded any program can run or execute as the need of the
user. The steps for execution of the program are given below:

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PLATFORM TECHNOLOGIES
 The icon of the program is double clicked and opened. For example the word processor is
opened.
 The action of the user turns the computer to load the word application program from the
hard disk to the main memory such that the computer can execute it.
The CPUs contain a special register and its bit pattern is determined for determining the
work the CPU can perform. An instruction queue is used by the CPUs for management of several
instruction. The instruction sequence is also stored in main memory and the memory address of
the first instruction located is copied to program counter [1]. The address is sent by the CPU to
the program counter using the address bus. A response is get from the memory by sending copy
of state at the memory location on data bus that the CPU copies in instruction register.
Initially the programs gets stored in the hard disk and also termed as secondary device.
When the program is installed the program occupies a space in the hard drive but during the
execution of the program, it is copied from the hard disk to the RAM (main memory) and the
program is executed from the main memory.
Part B:Q2 – Conversion
1. Convert (65.45)10 to binary
Whole part of a number is obtained by dividing on the basis new
65 2
-64 32 2
1 -32 16 2
0 -16 8 2
0 -8 4 2
0 -4 2 2
0 -2 1
0
= 6510 -> 10000012
The fraction part is found with the multiplication on the new
0 .45
. 2
0 9
2
1 8

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PLATFORM TECHNOLOGIES
2
1 6
2
1 2
2
0 4
2
0 8
2
1 6
2
1 2
2
0 4
2
0 8
2
1 6
2
Happened:0.4510 = 0.011100110012
Therefore, 65.4510 = 1000001.011100110012
2. Convert (100111000.0011)2 to decimal

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PLATFORM TECHNOLOGIES
100111000.00112 = 1∙28+0∙27+0∙26+1∙25+1∙24+1∙23+0∙22+0∙21+0∙20+0∙2-1+0∙2-2+1∙2-3+1∙2-4
= 256+0+0+32+16+8+0+0+0+0+0+0.125+0.0625
= 312.187510
3. Convert (78)10 to hexadecimal
Whole part of a number is obtained by dividing on the basis new
78 16
-64 4
14=
E
Result: 7810 = 4E16
4. Convert (33.3)10 to IEEE754 floating point format in hexadecimal format
Bits 62 - 52
Exponent Field 10000000100
Decimal value of exponent field and exponent 1028 - 1023 = 5
Bits 51 - 0
Significand 1 .0000101001100110011001100110011001100110011001100110
Decimal value of the significand 1.0406250000000000
Hexadecimal: 4040A66666666666
Decimal: 33.300000000000000

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PLATFORM TECHNOLOGIES
Bibliography
[1]V. Rajeswari and K. Thiagarajan, "Study on Binary Equivalent Decimal Edge Graceful
Labeling", Indian Journal of Science and Technology, vol. 9, no. 1, 2016. Available:
10.17485/ijst/2016/v9is1/108356.
[2]D. Feitelson, Workload modeling for computer systems performance evaluation. .