Editing Instructions per cycle (section)

== Computer speed ==
The useful work that can be done with any computer depends on many factors besides the processor speed.  These factors include the [[instruction set architecture]], the processor's [[microarchitecture]], and the computer system organization (such as the design of the [[disk storage]] system and the capabilities and performance of other attached devices), the efficiency of the [[operating system]], and the high-level design of [[application software]].

For computer users and purchasers, application [[Benchmark (computing)|benchmark]]s, rather than instructions per cycle, are typically a much more useful indication of system performance.  However, IPC does provide an example of why [[clock speed]] is not the only factor relevant to computer performance.