Grosch’s law

Grosch’s Law

What does Grosch’s law mean?

Grosch’s law is an empirical observation in the field of computer architecture that states that “the cost of a computer is proportional to its performance.” This means that as the performance of a computer increases, so does its cost. This law was first proposed by Herbert Grosch in 1957, and it has since been widely accepted as a fundamental principle of computer architecture.

The law applies whether the price per Unit of performance is decreasing or increasing. Grosch’s law is a useful generalization that can help to inform decisions about the cost-effectiveness of different computer systems.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the cost of a computer, including the cost of the components, the cost of assembly, and the cost of software. As the performance of a computer increases, the cost of these factors also increases. For example, higher-performance processors are more expensive than lower-performance processors, and more memory and storage are required to Support higher-performance applications.

Grosch’s law can be used to estimate the cost of a computer system based on its performance requirements. This can be helpful for making decisions about which system to purchase or how to upgrade an existing system.

Applications

Grosch’s law is an important principle in technology today because it helps to guide the design and pricing of computer systems. It is used by computer architects to design systems that meet performance requirements while minimizing cost. It is also used by businesses to make decisions about which computer systems to purchase.

Here are some specific examples of how Grosch’s law is applied in technology today:

• Computer manufacturers use Grosch’s law to set prices for their products. They know that customers are willing to pay more for higher-performance computers, so they price their products accordingly.
• Businesses use Grosch’s law to make decisions about which computer systems to purchase. They know that they need to purchase systems that meet their performance requirements, but they also want to minimize cost. Grosch’s law helps them to Find the right balance between performance and cost.
• Computer scientists use Grosch’s law to design new computer architectures. They know that they need to design systems that are both leistungsstark and cost-effective. Grosch’s law helps them to make decisions about which technologies to use and how to optimize their designs.

History

Grosch’s law was first proposed by Herbert Grosch in 1957. Grosch was a computer scientist Who worked at IBM. He was inspired to develop the law after observing that the cost of computers was increasing at a rate that was proportional to their performance.

Grosch’s law has been widely accepted as a fundamental principle of computer architecture. It has been used to guide the design and pricing of computer systems for decades. Grosch’s law is a valuable tool for understanding the cost of computer systems and making decisions about which systems to purchase.