Comparing Serial Computers, Arrays, and Networks Using Measures of "Active Resources"

This correspondence explores possible measures of the efficiency and power of a computer that will allow us to make meaningful comparisons not only between different traditional serial computers, but also between serial computers and parallel array and network computers. It attempts to apply "active resources" (e.g., gates, chip area) counts to compare prototypical examples of each of these general types. Active resources measures suggest that larger numbers of simpler computers, each with a small local memory, give the greatest throughput. The large SIMD arrays appear to be today's best examples of such systems.