What Is A Computer Processor?
The central processing unit (CPU, processor) performs all the necessary calculations needed for a computer to run. It’s the brain of the computer, it processes instructions, and a computer cannot run without it. There are two different socket types that are mainly used today and that is socket AM2 (AMD’s computer processor platform), and LGA 775 (Intel’s computer processor platform).
All computer processors need cooling, back in the day they used passive heat sinks, which were blocks of heat conductive material that dissipated the heat away from the computer processors. Nowadays we need a much more powerful cooling solution so we use active heat sinks, which is a fan or fans, connected to a passive heat sink that blow the hot air away from the computer processor.
A computer processor’s speed is the frequency that it executes instructions. Measured in megahertz (MHz) or Gigahertz (GHz).
The clock speed (external speed) is the speed that the motherboard communicates with the computer processor, it is determined by the motherboard. The internal speed is the maximum speed that the computer processor can perform calculations. It’s usually a multiple of the external speed. If the motherboard has an external speed of 150MHz then the computer processor may have an internal speed of 1.5GHz so the multiplier is 10x.
The cache is a very fast memory that stores data waiting to enter or exit the processor. The Level 1 cache, or front side cache holds the data that is waiting to enter the system, and is usually built into the computer processor. The L2 cache, back side cache holds data that is waiting to leave the computer processor and go back into the RAM (Memory). The Level 2 cache is typically in the same package as the computer processor but on a different chip. Newer systems have an L3 cache that is between the computer processor and the RAM to optimize transfers between each other.
The system bus (FSB, or Front Side Bus) is the bus that carries information between the computer processor and the northbridge, and it’s the fastest bus in the system.
Computer processors voltage can vary from +5V to +1.0V. Older CPUs have higher voltages while newer computer processors have lower voltages. You can change the voltage in the motherboard’s BIOS if the motherboard has a voltage regulator module, which is good for overclocking.
What do you need to check before buying a computer processor for a motherboard to make sure it’s compatible?
Intel, or AMD: An Intel computer processor is not compatible with an AMD motherboard and vice versa, you need to make sure you get an Intel processor for an intel motherboard and an AMD processor for an AMD motherboard.
Socket Type: You need to check the socket type of the motherboard to make sure it’s the same as your computer processor.
Front Side Bus: Make sure that your motherboard’s front side bus operates at the same speed as your computer processor’s front side.
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