What is the difference between multiprocessors and grid computers?

Computer Architecture Questions



80 Short 54 Medium 38 Long Answer Questions Question Index

What is the difference between multiprocessors and grid computers?

The main difference between multiprocessors and grid computers lies in their architecture and purpose.

Multiprocessors refer to a type of computer system where multiple processors or central processing units (CPUs) are integrated into a single machine. These processors share the same memory and resources, allowing them to work together on a single task or set of tasks. The primary goal of multiprocessors is to improve performance and increase computational power by parallelizing tasks across multiple processors.

On the other hand, grid computers are a distributed computing system that connects multiple computers or nodes across different locations or networks. These nodes are typically heterogeneous and may have different architectures, operating systems, and resources. Grid computing aims to utilize the collective processing power and resources of these distributed nodes to solve complex problems or perform large-scale computations.

In summary, multiprocessors focus on improving performance by utilizing multiple processors within a single machine, while grid computers aim to leverage the collective power of distributed nodes across different locations or networks.