Choose Your Processor for Speed copyright ©2011 by Alden and Micki Nellis, Computer Professionals USA 603 N. Main, Cleburne, TX 76033 817-641-9646 You should consider the processor speed when buying a new computer or upgrading. The processor is called the central processing unit or CPU. It is a chip on the mainboard. Last time we discussed adding memory as a way to speed up your computer. If you have reached maximum effect by adding memory, the next thing to do is add a faster processor. A processor upgrade may not be possible. If your computer is more than two or three years old, it may not be capable of accepting the current CPU design. The older CPU in a faster model may no longer be available for it. Also, your present CPU may be the fastest your mainboard will accept. However, selection of the CPU is of prime importance when buying a new computer. Some new computers have full-featured CPUs, and some have reduced-featured CPUs. These CPUs are normally used in low-end or economy computers. In selecting your CPU, you will find a direct correlation between price and performance. Be aware that you will pay a real premium for performance above the price break, and the price of your configuration will drop drastically in the future. Now here's a technical lesson. CPU performance is gauged by data throughput, which is determined by many factors, but primarily by data width, which is expressed in bits, and frequency, which is measured in Hertz. One Hertz is one cycle per second. A 3 GHz (Gigahertz) CPU has a frequency of 3 billion cycles per second, and will process one bit of data per cycle for each bit width. Most of the current CPUs are 32 bit processors, so 32 bit width times 3 GHz equals 96 billion bits per second. There are 8 bits in one byte, which represents one character or letter. A word is defined as 5 characters. Therefore, a 3 GHz, 32 bit CPU will process about 2.4 billion words per second. It is as difficult to grasp this processing rate as it is to grasp the dollars in the national debt. For interesting comparisons, the AC (alternating current) electricity in this county alternates at a frequency of 60 Hz. Under some conditions, you can see this vibration. A "C" tuning fork vibrates at 256 Hz. You can feel this vibration, but not see it. Now try to imagine something vibrating at 3 GHz! Also affecting CPU throughput are the internal architecture of the CPU chip and its bus speed. The AMD chip has a slightly more efficient architecture than the Intel, thus giving it an edge on throughput. Data width will become more of a factor in the near future. Both Intel and AMD now have 64 bit CPUs on the market. When the IBM PC first came out in the early 1980s, it had an 8 bit CPU running at 4.77 MHZ. You do the math. In summary, if your older computer is more than three years old, the CPU is on the cusp of being upgradable. If it is more than five years old, it is not economically feasible to upgrade the CPU. You might get some more speed by upgrading the memory. If you are shopping for a new computer, be aware that the cheapest may have reduced-featured CPUs, that there is a price/performance break, and that you will pay a premium for anything faster. If price is not a factor, then go for it and get the biggest, fastest CPU available.

Choose Your Processor for Speed

You should consider the processor speed when buying a new computer or upgrading. The processor is called the central processing unit or CPU. It is a chip on the mainboard. Last time we discussed adding memory as a way to speed up your computer.

If you have reached maximum effect by adding memory, the next thing to do is add a faster processor. A processor upgrade may not be possible. If your computer is more than two or three years old, it may not be capable of accepting the current CPU design. The older CPU in a faster model may no longer be available for it. Also, your present CPU may be the fastest your mainboard will accept.

However, selection of the CPU is of prime importance when buying a new computer. Some new computers have full-featured CPUs, and some have reduced-featured CPUs. These CPUs are normally used in low-end or economy computers. In selecting your CPU, you will find a direct correlation between price and performance. Be aware that you will pay a real premium for performance above the price break, and the price of your configuration will drop drastically in the future.

Now here's a technical lesson. CPU performance is gauged by data throughput, which is determined by many factors, but primarily by data width, which is expressed in bits, and frequency, which is measured in Hertz. One Hertz is one cycle per second. A 3 GHz (Gigahertz) CPU has a frequency of 3 billion cycles per second, and will process one bit of data per cycle for each bit width. Most of the current CPUs are 32 bit processors, so 32 bit width times 3 GHz equals 96 billion bits per second. There are 8 bits in one byte, which represents one character or letter. A word is defined as 5 characters. Therefore, a 3 GHz, 32 bit CPU will process about 2.4 billion words per second. It is as difficult to grasp this processing rate as it is to grasp the dollars in the national debt.

For interesting comparisons, the AC (alternating current) electricity in this county alternates at a frequency of 60 Hz. Under some conditions, you can see this vibration. A "C" tuning fork vibrates at 256 Hz. You can feel this vibration, but not see it. Now try to imagine something vibrating at 3 GHz! Also affecting CPU throughput are the internal architecture of the CPU chip and its bus speed. The AMD chip has a slightly more efficient architecture than the Intel, thus giving it an edge on throughput. Data width will become more of a factor in the near future. Both Intel and AMD now have 64 bit CPUs on the market.

When the IBM PC first came out in the early 1980s, it had an 8 bit CPU running at 4.77 MHZ. You do the math. In summary, if your older computer is more than three years old, the CPU is on the cusp of being upgradable. If it is more than five years old, it is not economically feasible to upgrade the CPU. You might get some more speed by upgrading the memory.

If you are shopping for a new computer, be aware that the cheapest may have reduced-featured CPUs, that there is a price/performance break, and that you will pay a premium for anything faster. If price is not a factor, then go for it and get the biggest, fastest CPU available.