A research institution is purchasing new server hardware. They are deciding between two custom server configurations, Server Alpha and Server Beta, to handle their computational workloads. The specifications of the two configurations are detailed in the table below:
| Specification | Server Alpha | Server Beta |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Architecture | 16-core, 1.8 GHz clock speed, 12 MB L3 Cache | 4-core, 4.5 GHz clock speed, 64 MB L3 Cache |
| Primary Memory (RAM) | 128 GB DDR4 RAM | 32 GB DDR4 RAM |
| Secondary Storage | 8 TB Hard Disk Drive (HDD) | 2 TB NVMe Solid State Drive (SSD) |
Discuss the performance advantages and disadvantages of Server Alpha compared to Server Beta under different operational workloads.
Your answer should explain the underlying architectural reasons for these differences and their direct impact on system performance. Assume all unlisted components are identical.
Practise AQA GCSE Computer Science Systems architecture with exam-style questions for GCSE Computer Science. 42 questions, matched to the AQA GCSE Computer Science (8525) specification and written in Paper 1 and Paper 2 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.