CPU Facts 3.4

How is CPU performance measured?

Throughput, access time, execution time, etc.

What effect does CPU cache have on performance?

Doubling cache can nearly double performance.

What limits dual-core CPU performance gains?

Software must support multiple cores.

What instruction set improvements boost performance?

Hyper-Threading, SIMD, etc.

What are five ways to improve system performance?

Add RAM, upgrade disks, improve cooling, remove bloatware, monitor system health.

What does Windows Performance Monitor track?

CPU, RAM, disk, and network usage.

What is Clock Time (CT)?

Time taken per clock cycle.

Why is clock speed less relevant today?

Architectural differences matter more than raw GHz.

When does higher GHz mean better performance?

Only within the same CPU family.

When are CPU performance ratings valid to compare?

Only within the same brand (Intel vs. Intel, AMD vs. AMD).

What is overclocking?

Running a CPU faster than its rated speed.

What are the risks of overclocking?

Heat, system instability, voided warranty.

What components must support overclocking?

CPU, motherboard, and RAM.

Why does overclocking create more heat?

It requires more voltage.

What is benchmarking?

Measuring CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage performance.

What are benefits of benchmarking?

Identifies bottlenecks and justifies upgrades.

When should you benchmark your system?

Before and after upgrades.

Where can you compare CPU benchmarks online?

cpubenchmark.net.

What is LGA?

Land Grid Array — Intel CPUs with contact pads.

What is PGA?

Pin Grid Array — AMD CPUs with pins.

What is ZIF?

Zero Insertion Force socket — used with PGA CPUs.

What is BGA?

Ball Grid Array — soldered CPUs, non-upgradable.

Which Intel CPUs use Socket 1151?

6th–9th Gen Intel Core processors.

Which Intel CPUs use Socket 1200?

10th–11th Gen Intel Core processors.

Which AMD CPUs use AM4 socket?

Ryzen (Zen-based) CPUs.

Which CPUs use AMD TR4 socket?

Threadripper CPUs with quad-channel memory.

Why does CPU socket type matter?

It determines which CPUs are compatible.

What must match when installing a CPU?

The socket type and motherboard support.

What is multiple processor support?

Motherboards with multiple CPU sockets.

What should you check before choosing a motherboard?

CPU compatibility and socket support.

What is the Execute Disable Bit (EDB)?

Intel CPU security feature to prevent malicious code execution.

How do you know if a CPU has EDB?

Model number ends in “J.”

What is a CPU physically?

An integrated circuit with microscopic logic gates and aluminum strands.

What is an example of CPU instruction execution?

Read input, calculate, store result, display, and save output.

Why must system components sync to CPU clock speed?

To ensure coordinated and error-free data flow.

What is Intel Turbo Boost?

Technology for dynamic CPU overclocking beyond base speed.

What is multithreading?

A CPU core handling multiple instruction threads.

What is Hyper-Threading?

Intel's version of multithreading — makes one core act like two logical processors.

How does 4 cores with multithreading affect instruction execution?

Allows up to 8 concurrent instruction threads.

What is an integrated GPU?

A graphics processor built into the CPU chip.

Why does a CPU need virtualization support?

To run virtual machines efficiently by allocating system resources.

What are the types of CPU cooling methods?

Passive (heatsink only), active (fan + heatsink), liquid cooling (radiator).

Why is thermal paste important?

It ensures proper heat transfer from CPU to cooler.

What factors should you consider when selecting a CPU?

System purpose, socket compatibility, BIOS support, performance needs, cost.

How do Intel and AMD CPUs compare?

Intel is faster but pricier; AMD is cheaper with competitive performance.

32-bit vs. 64-bit Processors

A 64-bit processor can process more information and supports much higher memory limits (up to 16 EB), whereas a 32-bit processor is limited to 4 GB of RAM.

Instruction Set

Processors use different instruction sets: IA-32 for 32-bit, IA-64 for Itanium processors, and x86-64 (x64) for 64-bit processors.

Processor Cache

Cache is memory accessed directly by the CPU. L1 is the smallest and fastest, while L4 cache acts as overflow for L3 and is shared dynamically with the GPU.

Process Size

Smaller process sizes (measured in microns or nanometers) lead to smaller CPUs with more transistors and lower power consumption.

Hyper-threading

Intel feature that allows a CPU core to execute two threads simultaneously, improving performance on supported applications.

Throttling

Adjusts processor performance (speed, core usage) to conserve energy or reduce heat, commonly used in mobile processors.

Mobile Processors

Designed for portability and efficiency. Consumes less power and generate less heat, often used in laptops and cell phones.

Virtualization

Allows running multiple operating systems on a single machine with the help of a hypervisor. CPU features like Intel VT and AMD-V improve virtualization performance.