Using Information Theory to Study Efficiency and Capacity of Computers and Similar Devices

• Main Author: Boris Ryabko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2010-08-01
• Series: Information
• Subjects: computer capacity; computer efficiency; information theory; Shannon entropy; channel capacity
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/1/1/3/

We address the problem of estimating the efficiency and capacity of computers. The main goal of our approach is to give a method for comparing the capacity of different computers, which can have different sets of instructions, different kinds of memory, a different number of cores (or processors), etc. We define efficiency and capacity of computers and suggest a method for their estimation, which is based on the analysis of processor instructions and their execution time. How the suggested method can be applied to estimate the computer capacity is shown. In particular, this consideration gives a new look at the organization of the memory of a computer. Obtained results can be of some interest for practical applications.