Research > CPUs
CPU stands for Computer Processing Unit. It is the chip that is the brains of a mother board/computer.
In 2016 I was shopping for used laptops and realized I could not longer easily discern what was what as they all now quote model numbers more prominently that processor speeds and cores.
In 2016 I was shopping for used laptops and realized I could not longer easily discern what was what as they all now quote model numbers more prominently that processor speeds and cores.
CPU attributes
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/tech/computers/how-to-compare-computer-processors-cpus?page=1
Relevant Items to Consider
1) Vendors: AMD and Intel
2) Clock Speed
3) Processing Cores
4) 32 / 64 Bit
Summary
Relevant Items to Consider
- Vendor
- Clock Speed
- Processing Cores
- 32/64 Bit
- Other
1) Vendors: AMD and Intel
- AMD typically lower cost
2) Clock Speed
- For Example: 3gHz = 3 Billion calculations per second
3) Processing Cores
- Single Core -- One task at one time
- Multi - Core -- One chip with Mini processors
- So if your computer is a quad core 3gHz, you are really have the equivalent of 4 x 750mHz processors
- If you do lots at once, multe core probably better. if you do massive computational work, single core
- However, many of the more intensive applications such as Photoshop, Final Cut Pro and Autocad are designed to take advantage of multi-core processors, thus best of both worlds for software designed to multi-thread/hyper thread
- You can search "{software name} multi-threading" to see if your favorites support multi-threading
4) 32 / 64 Bit
- Almost all processors out are 64 bit these days
Summary
- Put money into Processor as all else can be upgraded
Intel Processor Specs
http://www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/quickreffam.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Intel_processors
Clock speed -- cores -- bus speed
- This chart mysteriously indicates no new processor speeds since 2008.
- This chart has i7, but not i5 and i3...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Intel_processors
Clock speed -- cores -- bus speed
- Pentium -- 60 - 200 MHz -- 1
- Celeron -- 266MHz - 3.6 GHz
- Pentium Pro -- 150 MHz-200MHz
- i3 -- 1.2 - 3.7GHz -- 2 w Hyperthreading -- bus spd1066/1600/2.5-5GT/s
- i5 -- 1.06 - 3.6GHz -- 2 w Hyperthreading, 4 -- 2.5-5 GT/s
- i7 -- 1.6 - 4.4GHz -- 4, 4wHyperthreading -- 4.8 to 6.4 GT/s
- i7x -- 3-4 GHz -- 4, 6, 8, 10 w Hyperthreading -- 2.5 - 6.4
AMD Processor Specs
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_AMD_processors
- not as easy to summarize, just look at table
Find processor speed on PC
Start > Control Panel > System
-- for Ref --
My Lenovo T520 -- i7, quad core, 2.4GHz
My Dell --
-- for Ref --
My Lenovo T520 -- i7, quad core, 2.4GHz
My Dell --