CPU Sale and Information
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. Also known as a processor, the CPU is the main chip of the computer, where information is processed and calculations are performed.
CPU TermsHere are some common terms you'll encounter when shopping for a CPU:
- Front Side Bus (FSB)
This is the speed at which the CPU interacts with other components on the motherboard.
- Hyper-Threading (HT)
Hyper-Threading is a technology by Intel which allows a single CPU to behave as a dual CPU by executing multithreaded code in parallel.
- L1 Cache
This is level 1 cache memory which is built into the CPU. It gives the CPU the fastest access to recently used data.
- L2 Cache
This is level 2 cache memory which can be located outside or inside the CPU. L2 cache is typically larger in capacity than L1 cache but, for some models, it operates at a fraction of the CPU clock speed. However, it is still faster than retrieving data from main memory.
- Socket Type
This is the packaging of the CPU which vary according to the pin count, voltage level and pin layout. Motherboards can only accept one socket type so it is important you match the right socket type with the right motherboard. Some Intel socket types include Socket 370 and Socket 478. Some AMD socket types include Socket A and Socket 754.
- HyperTransport
HyperTransport is a technology by AMD which is a high-speed communication link between chips. This helps reduce bottlenecks in the system by increasing bandwidth.
- SSE, SSE2, MMX, 3DNow!
These are all instruction set extensions for the x86 CPU. Multimedia applications and games benefit most from these instructions.
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