What does clock speed refer to in a computer system?

Study for the OCR GCSE Computer Science Exam. Prepare with flashcards, multiple choice questions, and hints. Get exam-ready with practical questions and answers!

Clock speed in a computer system refers to how fast the fetch-decode-execute (FDE) cycle is completed. It indicates the number of cycles a CPU can perform in one second and is typically measured in Hertz (Hz), with common units being megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). A higher clock speed means the CPU can process instructions more quickly, which generally leads to better performance for tasks that require a lot of computation.

This concept is crucial because the speed of the FDE cycle directly impacts the overall speed and efficiency of the processor when executing programs. Thus, clock speed is a critical factor in determining a computer's performance, particularly in terms of its ability to handle multiple operations or complex algorithms efficiently.

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