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The CPU or Central Processing Unit, often called processor for short, is usually called the brains of the computer because it is just like the human brain. This piece of PC Computer Hardware takes care of practically all system processes. When you buy a desktop computer CPU, there are two important factors that you will want to carefully consider: the clock speed and the Front Side Bus speed.
* Clock Speed
The clock speed or clock rate of a desktop computer CPU tells you how many cycles the processor can do in one second. It is expressed in gigahertz or megahertz. An old 800MHz processor can do 800 cycles per second, while a modern 3.2GHz processor can do 3200 cycles per second.
The computer CPU needs one or several cycles to perform an action. Thus, the clock speed can give you a good idea of how fast the processor can execute instructions. Generally speaking, the faster the clock speed of your desktop computer CPU, the more actions the CPU can do per second.
* Front Side Bus Speed
The Front Side Bus speed or FSB speed indicates how fast your desktop computer CPU can communicate with Random Access Memory or system memory. If you have two computer CPUs with the same clock speeds but different FSB speeds, the one with the faster FSB speed can execute instructions faster.
FSB speeds can be measured in MHz but are preferably expressed in Megatransfers per second (Mt/s). Expressing FSB speeds in Mt/s is more accurate because the actual FSB speed is contingent on both the FSB clock speed and the number of transfers the processor can do per clock cycle. A desktop computer CPU with a 200MHz FSB that can perform four transfers per clock cycle has an effective FSB speed of 800 Mt/s.
Now that you understand the CPU clock speed and FSB speed, do not forget to check these statistics when you buy a computer CPU. These figures can greatly help you determine the overall processing power of a particular desktop computer CPU.
CPU Information
The central processing unit (CPU) of your computer does not refer to the entire computer box as many ordinary users mistakenly call it. But it is a small piece of hardware that is also called the processor or microprocessor that reads, converts, and disposes majority of the instructions inside your computer. It is also often referred to as the “brain” or the ‘think tank” of your computer. That is why buying a CPU should be well advised and thought of to maximize computer use. |