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18 Dec 2024, 08:53
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The two competing hypotheses are:
Thermal management issue: Performance drops occur because the processor overheats, and the cooling system can't keep up.
Voltage regulation issue: Performance drops occur because the voltage regulators fail to maintain a stable power supply under high demand.
Answer analysis:
A) When the computational load is suddenly increased, processors equipped with advanced cooling systems show no drop in performance, while those with standard cooling systems do.
This directly supports the thermal management hypothesis because better cooling systems eliminate performance drops.
It undermines the voltage regulation hypothesis because the issue is tied to cooling, not the power supply.
Correct answer? Possible. Let’s analyze other options.
B) Processors show a consistent decrease in performance as computational tasks become more complex, regardless of variations in the processor’s cooling system or voltage regulator quality.
This supports neither hypothesis. It suggests performance decreases are inherent to task complexity rather than cooling or voltage issues.
It does not differentiate between thermal or voltage issues.
Correct answer? No.
C) Under high computational demand, processors that maintain a stable voltage supply do not exhibit performance drops, regardless of the efficiency of their cooling system.
This directly supports the voltage regulation hypothesis because stable voltage eliminates performance drops.
It undermines the thermal management hypothesis because cooling efficiency does not matter when the voltage is stable.
Correct answer? Strong candidate.
D) When a processor’s cooling system is enhanced, it shows performance drops less frequently during computational tasks that are consistent in nature.
This supports the thermal management hypothesis because improving cooling reduces performance drops.
However, it does not provide strong evidence to undermine the voltage regulation hypothesis, as voltage issues could still occur independently of cooling.
Correct answer? No, weaker than A or C.
E) The more rapidly a task switches between different computational demands, the more frequently a processor experiences performance drops.
This supports neither hypothesis directly. Rapid task switching could strain both the cooling system and voltage regulators.
It does not clearly favor one hypothesis over the other.
Correct answer? No.
Conclusion:
The best answer is C, as it strongly supports the voltage regulation hypothesis and undermines the thermal management hypothesis by showing that stable voltage supply prevents performance drops, regardless of cooling efficiency.
Thermal management issue: Performance drops occur because the processor overheats, and the cooling system can't keep up.
Voltage regulation issue: Performance drops occur because the voltage regulators fail to maintain a stable power supply under high demand.
Answer analysis:
A) When the computational load is suddenly increased, processors equipped with advanced cooling systems show no drop in performance, while those with standard cooling systems do.
This directly supports the thermal management hypothesis because better cooling systems eliminate performance drops.
It undermines the voltage regulation hypothesis because the issue is tied to cooling, not the power supply.
Correct answer? Possible. Let’s analyze other options.
B) Processors show a consistent decrease in performance as computational tasks become more complex, regardless of variations in the processor’s cooling system or voltage regulator quality.
This supports neither hypothesis. It suggests performance decreases are inherent to task complexity rather than cooling or voltage issues.
It does not differentiate between thermal or voltage issues.
Correct answer? No.
C) Under high computational demand, processors that maintain a stable voltage supply do not exhibit performance drops, regardless of the efficiency of their cooling system.
This directly supports the voltage regulation hypothesis because stable voltage eliminates performance drops.
It undermines the thermal management hypothesis because cooling efficiency does not matter when the voltage is stable.
Correct answer? Strong candidate.
D) When a processor’s cooling system is enhanced, it shows performance drops less frequently during computational tasks that are consistent in nature.
This supports the thermal management hypothesis because improving cooling reduces performance drops.
However, it does not provide strong evidence to undermine the voltage regulation hypothesis, as voltage issues could still occur independently of cooling.
Correct answer? No, weaker than A or C.
E) The more rapidly a task switches between different computational demands, the more frequently a processor experiences performance drops.
This supports neither hypothesis directly. Rapid task switching could strain both the cooling system and voltage regulators.
It does not clearly favor one hypothesis over the other.
Correct answer? No.
Conclusion:
The best answer is C, as it strongly supports the voltage regulation hypothesis and undermines the thermal management hypothesis by showing that stable voltage supply prevents performance drops, regardless of cooling efficiency.
18 Dec 2024, 09:00
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Some of the most advanced processors often need to rapidly switch between different tasks. However, during intensive computational activities, processors occasionally experience sudden drops in performance before resuming normal operation. One hypothesis is that the processor's thermal management system is unable to cope with the heat generated during such tasks, requiring a temporary reduction in processing speed; an alternative hypothesis is that the processor’s voltage regulators are unable to maintain a stable power supply under high demand, leading to performance drops.
Which of the following, if discovered in computational loads, would support one of the two hypotheses and undermine the other?
We have 2 potential causes for decline in performance - thermal management(heat) and volatage regulation. We need to choose an option that weakens one possibility and strengthens other possibility. Lets start...
A) When the computational load is suddenly increased, processors equipped with advanced cooling systems show no drop in performance, while those with standard cooling systems do.
This may seem to do the job, but it may be the case that processors with advanced cooling systems also have good voltage regulators, hence we cannot zero in on the reason for decline among the two possibilities.
B) Processors show a consistent decrease in performance as computational tasks become more complex, regardless of variations in the processor’s cooling system or voltage regulator quality.
This, does not help us to discriminate between the two possibilities.
C) Under high computational demand, processors that maintain a stable voltage supply do not exhibit performance drops, regardless of the efficiency of their cooling system.
Now, this option says, regardless of whether the cooling system is good or bad, its only the voltage supply that matters. This option clearly discriminates between the two possibilities, making it the right choice. Lets continue checking the other two options for good measure.
D) When a processor’s cooling system is enhanced, it shows performance drops less frequently during computational tasks that are consistent in nature.
Now, this explains something about computational tasks that are consistent, but does not discriminate between the possibilities.
E) The more rapidly a task switches between different computational demands, the more frequently a processor experiences performance drops.
Now, this explains something about rapid switching of tasks that are consistent, but does not discriminate between the possibilities.
Which of the following, if discovered in computational loads, would support one of the two hypotheses and undermine the other?
We have 2 potential causes for decline in performance - thermal management(heat) and volatage regulation. We need to choose an option that weakens one possibility and strengthens other possibility. Lets start...
A) When the computational load is suddenly increased, processors equipped with advanced cooling systems show no drop in performance, while those with standard cooling systems do.
This may seem to do the job, but it may be the case that processors with advanced cooling systems also have good voltage regulators, hence we cannot zero in on the reason for decline among the two possibilities.
B) Processors show a consistent decrease in performance as computational tasks become more complex, regardless of variations in the processor’s cooling system or voltage regulator quality.
This, does not help us to discriminate between the two possibilities.
C) Under high computational demand, processors that maintain a stable voltage supply do not exhibit performance drops, regardless of the efficiency of their cooling system.
Now, this option says, regardless of whether the cooling system is good or bad, its only the voltage supply that matters. This option clearly discriminates between the two possibilities, making it the right choice. Lets continue checking the other two options for good measure.
D) When a processor’s cooling system is enhanced, it shows performance drops less frequently during computational tasks that are consistent in nature.
Now, this explains something about computational tasks that are consistent, but does not discriminate between the possibilities.
E) The more rapidly a task switches between different computational demands, the more frequently a processor experiences performance drops.
Now, this explains something about rapid switching of tasks that are consistent, but does not discriminate between the possibilities.
Bunuel
18 Dec 2024, 10:01
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Purnank,
Answer choice A only undermines the first hypothesis. You’re assuming that by undermining one you would automatically support the other but that’s not the case. These are not mutually exclusive and an answer needs to support one as one task and undermine the other as a separate task.
For example, imagine the situation where voltage regulators are unable to maintain the performance only under high temperatures. In this case, you would lower the temperature but actually fix the voltage regulators. While this undermines voltage regulators in almost all cases, there’s one case when it still may be the culprit. This is a very well masked classic Trap of telling you what’s not the problem instead of telling you what is the problem.
Sorry if this is too tricky
Welcome suggestions. I’ll pass them on to the question writer. 🫣
Answer choice A only undermines the first hypothesis. You’re assuming that by undermining one you would automatically support the other but that’s not the case. These are not mutually exclusive and an answer needs to support one as one task and undermine the other as a separate task.
For example, imagine the situation where voltage regulators are unable to maintain the performance only under high temperatures. In this case, you would lower the temperature but actually fix the voltage regulators. While this undermines voltage regulators in almost all cases, there’s one case when it still may be the culprit. This is a very well masked classic Trap of telling you what’s not the problem instead of telling you what is the problem.
Sorry if this is too tricky
Welcome suggestions. I’ll pass them on to the question writer. 🫣
Purnank
