How is Computing Power Calculated?
The computing power is used to tell us about the performance of a computer. It includes speed, efficiency, accuracy, and process of the computer. A computer is a machine that performs some complex tasks that are impossible for even intelligent beings like us. The computing power results in the performance of more complex processes within a jiffy. Modern computers have the ability to do all these processes and calculations more efficiently and quickly than ever before. A processor with great computing power can load 3d objects easily, open programs quickly, run games at the highest resolutions, and do other stuff that can make you fall in love with it.
The mind of the computer, the central processing unit (CPU), is responsible for carrying out all these processes and determining the speed and efficiency. The CPU sends electrical pulses to all the components of the computer to carry out the assigned task. The number of pulses the CPU sends per second is known as its clock speed. Generally, a 2-gigahertz processor sends more than 2 billion pulses within a short period of one second. A computer with greater clock speed can perform more complex tasks that a normal computer can not and these extraordinary computers are known as supercomputers. The world’s best supercomputer, Jaguar, has an astonishing speed of 2.3 x 10^8 pulses per second, which is the record highest computing power.
According to some computer experts, a computer is just a big, quick, and advanced math calculator. The computer breaks down the assigned tasks into mathematical problems and then tries to solve them one by one. However, some extremely complex math problems are beyond the solving capability of the computers and they just show errors. Even the supercomputer requires exceptional computing power to solve these problems in years.
Many new computers in the market now come with multiple built-in processors. Every processor forms a certain number of calculations and the load is divided between all. So multiple-processor computers require less computing power per processor to complete tasks that take hours than single-processor computers and it is more accurate and efficient. Apparently, having more processes means that the computer has more computing power.
If that is not enough for you, then you can also overclock your processor. Overclocking a processor takes the computing power of the processor to an extensive limit and makes it the best version of itself, but it also affects the performance in the long run.
To know the computing power of two processors, we must compete with them under the same circumstances. For example, you are given two processors and are told that both of them have the same computing power and you need to prove it. So, you will provide an algorithm to one processor using the machine language and provide the other with the same algorithm using the same language. If the results come out the same then the computing power of both processors is the same and if one fails to show results then the other one has more computing power.
Quantum computers are the future of computing. These machines use quantum computing power to resolve any simple or complicated problem within seconds. These computers also require less electricity and other external power sources to carry out their processes compared to traditional computers. Still, just like everything else, there are some downsides to quantum computers as well. These computers are difficult to build, engineer, and program. Computer specialists have failed many times while creating these quantum computers but are hopeful that it will be possible soon.