As processor speed increases, what also needs to increase?

The correct choice, which identifies the need for an increase in memory speed as processor speeds rise, is rooted in the fundamental operation of computer systems. As processors become faster, they can execute instructions more quickly. However, to maintain optimal performance, the speed at which data is retrieved from memory (RAM) also needs to keep pace with this increased processing speed.

When a processor operates at higher speeds, it requires data to be transferred to it from memory in a timely manner. If memory speed does not increase correspondingly, the processor may have to wait for data, leading to a bottleneck situation where the CPU is not being fully utilized. This can significantly hinder overall system performance, as the efficiency gain from faster processing can be negated by slow memory access times.

In contrast, while other factors such as hard drive speed, battery efficiency, and graphics processing speed are important aspects of a computing system, they do not have the direct correlation with rising processor speed in the same way that memory speed does. For instance, improved hard drive speeds and graphics processing speeds can enhance system performance, but they do not influence the relationship between the processor and its immediate access to memory.