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Computer Processor Types

The document provides an overview of various types of computer processors, primarily focusing on AMD and Intel offerings. It discusses the differences between OEM and retail-boxed processors, categorizes processors into budget, mainstream, and extreme types, and explains the significance of dual-core technology. Additionally, it highlights specific models like AMD Sempron, Athlon 64, and Intel Celeron and Pentium processors, along with their performance characteristics and compatibility considerations.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
13 views16 pages

Computer Processor Types

The document provides an overview of various types of computer processors, primarily focusing on AMD and Intel offerings. It discusses the differences between OEM and retail-boxed processors, categorizes processors into budget, mainstream, and extreme types, and explains the significance of dual-core technology. Additionally, it highlights specific models like AMD Sempron, Athlon 64, and Intel Celeron and Pentium processors, along with their performance characteristics and compatibility considerations.

Uploaded by

Roel Abrasaldo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Computer Processor Types

Learn about the different types of PC processors.

Computer Processor Types


A few years ago, choosing a processor was pretty straightforward. AMD and Intel each
produced two series of processors, a mainstream line and a budget line. Each company
used only one processor socket, and there was a limited range of processor speeds
available. If you wanted an Intel processor, you might have a dozen mainstream models
and a half-dozen budget models to choose among. The same was true of AMD.

OEM Versus Retail-Boxed

To further confuse matters, most AMD and Intel processors are available in two types of
packaging, called OEM and retail-boxed. OEM processor packages include only the bare
processor and usually provide only a 90-day warranty. Retail-boxed processors include the
processor, a compatible CPU cooler, and a longer warranty, typically three years.

A retail-boxed processor is usually the better deal. It typically costs only a few dollars more than
the OEM version of the same processor, and the bundled CPU cooler is usually worth more
than the price difference. But if you plan to install an after-market CPU cooler for example,
because you are upgrading your system to be as quiet as possible it may make sense to buy
the OEM processor.

Nowadays, choosing a processor isn't as simple. AMD and Intel now make literally
scores of different processor models. Each company now offers several lines of
processors, which differ in clock speed, L2 cache, socket type, host-bus speed, special
features supported, and other characteristics. Even the model names are confusing.
AMD, for example, has offered at least five different processor models under the same
name Athlon 64 3200+. An Intel Celeron model number that ends in J fits Socket 775,
and the same model number without the J designates the same processor for Socket
478. A Pentium 4 processor model number that ends in J says nothing about the socket
type it is designed for, but indicates that the processor supports the execute-disable bit
feature. And so on.

AMD and Intel each offer the three categories of processors described in the following
sections.
Budget processors
Budget processors give up a bit of performance in exchange for a lower price. At any
given time, AMD or Intel's fastest available budget processor is likely to have about 85%
of the performance of their slowest mainstream model. Budget processors are more
than sufficient for routine computing tasks. (After all, today's budget processor was
yesterday's mainstream processor and last week's performance processor.) Budget
processors are often the best choice for a system upgrade, because their lower clock
speeds and power consumption make it more likely that they'll be compatible with an
older motherboard.

AMD Sempron

The various models of the AMD Sempron processor sell in the $50 to $125 range, and
are targeted at the budget through low-end mainstream segment. The Sempron
replaced the discontinued Socket A Duron processor in 2004, and the obsolescent
Socket A Athlon XP processor in 2005. Various Sempron models are available in the
obsolescent Socket A and in the same Socket 754 used by some Athlon 64 models.

AMD actually packages two different processors under the Sempron name. A Socket A
Sempron, also called a K7 Sempron, is in fact a re-badged Athlon XP processor. A
Socket 754 Sempron, shown in Figure 5-1 is also called a K8 Sempron, and is really a
cut-down Athlon 64 model running at a lower clock speed with a smaller L2 cache and a
single-channel memory controller rather than the dual-channel memory controller of the
Athlon 64. Early Sempron models had no support for 64-bit processing. Recent
Sempron models include 64-bit support, although the practicality of running 64bit
software on a Sempron is questionable. Still, like the Athlon 64, the Sempron also runs
32-bit software very efficiently, so you can think of the 64-bit support as future-proofing.
Figure 5-1: AMD Sempron processor (image courtesy of AMD, Inc.)

If you have a Socket 462 (A) or Socket 754 motherboard in your system, the Sempron
offers an excellent upgrade path. You'll need to verify compatibility of your motherboard
with the specific Sempron you intend to install, and you may need to upgrade the BIOS
to recognize the Sempron.

For more information about Sempron processor models,


visit http://www.amd.com/sempron.

Intel Celeron

For many years, the Intel Celeron processor was the poor stepsister, offering too little
performance at too high a price. Cynical observers believed that the only reason Intel
sold any Celeron processors at all was that system makers wanted the Intel name on
their boxes without having to pay the higher price for an Intel mainstream processor.

That all changed when Intel introduced their Celeron D models, which are now available
for Socket 478 and Socket 775 motherboards. While Celeron D models are still slower
than Semprons dollar-for-dollar, the disparity is nowhere near as large as in years past.
Celeron D processors, which sell in the $60 to $125 range, are very credible upgrade
processors for anyone who owns a Socket 478 or Socket 775 motherboard. Like the
Sempron, Celeron models are available with 64-bit support, although again the
practicality of running 64-bit software on an entry-level processor is questionable. Once
again, it's important to verify the compatibility of your motherboard with the specific
Celeron you intend to install, and you may need to upgrade the BIOS to recognize the
Celeron.

AVOID NON-D CELERON PROCESSORS

Celeron processors (without the "D") are based on the Northwood core and have only 128 KB of
L2 cache. These processors have very poor performance, and unfortunately remain available
for sale. The Celeron D models are based on the Prescott-core, and have 256 KB of L2 cache.

For more information about Celeron processor models,


visithttp://www.intel.com/celeron.

Mainstream processors
Mainstream processors typically cost $125 to $250 although the fastest models sell for
$500 or more and offer anything up to about twice the overall performance of the
slowest budget processors. A mainstream processor may be a good upgrade choice if
you need more performance than a budget processor offers and are willing to pay the
additional cost.

However, depending on your motherboard, a mainstream processor may not be an


option even if you are willing to pay the extra cost. Mainstream processors consume
considerably more power than most budget processors, often too much to be used on
older motherboards. Also, mainstream processors often use more recent cores, larger
L2 caches, and other features that may or may not be compatible with an older
motherboard. An older power supply may not provide enough power for a current
mainstream processor, and the new processor may require faster memory than is
currently installed. If you intend to upgrade to a mainstream processor, carefully verify
compatibility of the processor, motherboard, power supply, and memory before you buy
the processor.
AMD Athlon 64

The AMD Athlon 64 processor, shown in Figure 5-2, is available in Socket 754 and
Socket 939 variants. As its name indicates, the Athlon 64 supports 64-bit software,
although only a tiny percentage of Athlon 64 owners run 64-bit software. Fortunately,
the Athlon 64 is equally at home running the 32-bit operating systems and applications
software that most of us use.

Figure 5-2: AMD Athlon 64 processor (image courtesy of AMD, Inc.)

Like the Sempron, the Athlon 64 has a memory controller built onto the processor die,
rather than depending on a memory controller that's part of the chipset. The upside of
this design decision is that Athlon 64 memory performance is excellent. The downside is
that supporting a new type of memory, such as DDR2, requires a processor redesign.
Socket 754 models have a single-channel PC3200 DDR-SDRAM memory controller
versus the dual-channel controller in Socket 939 models, so Socket 939 models running
at the same clock speed and with the same size L2 cache offer somewhat higher
performance. For example, AMD designates a Socket 754 Newcastle-core Athlon 64
with 512 KB of L2 cache running at 2.2 GHz a 3200+ model, while the same processor
in Socket 939 is designated an Athlon 64 3400+.
NUMBERS LIE

The model numbers of Athlon 64 and Sempron processors are scaled differently. For example,
the Socket 754 Sempron 3100+ runs at 1800 MHz and has 256 KB of cache, and the Socket
754 Athlon 64 2800+ runs at the same clock speed and has twice as much cache. Despite the
lower model number, the Athlon 64 2800+ is somewhat faster than the Sempron 3100+.
Although AMD hotly denies it, most industry observers believe that AMD intends Athlon 64
model numbers to be compared with Pentium 4 clock speeds and Sempron model numbers with
Celeron clock speeds. Of course, Intel also designates their recent processors by model
number rather than clock speed, confusing matters even further.

For more information about Athlon 64 processor models,


visit http://www.amd.com/athlon64.

Intel Pentium 4

The Pentium 4, shown in Figure 5-3, is Intel's flagship processor, and is available in
Socket 478 and Socket 775. Unlike AMD which sometimes uses the same Athlon 64
model number to designate four or more different processors with different clock
speeds, L2 cache sizes, and sockets Intel uses a numbering scheme that identifies
each model unambiguously.

Older Pentium 4 models, which are available only in Socket 478, are identified by clock
speed and sometimes a supplemental letter to indicate FSB speed and/or core type. For
example, a Socket 478 Northwood-core Pentium 4 processor operating at a core speed
of 2.8 GHz with the 400 MHz FSB is designated a Pentium 4/2.8. The same processor
with the 533 MHz FSB is designated a Pentium 4/2.8B, and with the 800 MHz FSB it's
designated a Pentium 4/2.8C. A 2.8 GHz Prescott-core Pentium 4 processor is
designated a Pentium 4/2.8E.
Figure 5-3: Intel Pentium 4 600 series processor (image courtesy of Intel Corporation)

Socket 775 Pentium 4 models belong to one of two series. All 500-series processors
use the Prescott-core and have 1 MB of L2 cache. All 600-series processors use the
Prescott 2M core and have 2 MB of L2 cache. Intel uses the second number of the
model number to indicate relative clock speed. For example, a Pentium 4/530 has a
clock speed of 3 GHz, as does a Pentium 4/630. The 540/640 models run at 3.2 GHz,
the 550/650 models at 3.4 GHz, the 560/660 models at 3.6 GHz, and so on. A "J"
following a 500-series model number (for example, 560J) indicates that the processor
supports the XDB feature, but not EM64T 64-bit support. If a 500-series model number
ends in 1 (for example, 571) that model supports both the XDB feature and EM64T 64-
bit processing. All 600-series processors support both XDB and EM64T.

For more information about Pentium 4 processor models,


visithttp://www.intel.com/pentium4.

Extreme Processors

We classify the fastest, most expensive mainstream processors those that sell in the $400 to
$500 range as performance processors, but AMD and Intel reserve that category for their top-of-
the-line models, which sell for $800 to $1,200. These processors the AMD Athlon 64 FX, the
Intel Pentium 4 Extreme Edition, and the Intel Pentium Extreme Edition are targeted at the
gaming and enthusiast market, and offer at best marginally faster performance than the fastest
mainstream models.
In fact, the performance bump is generally so small that we think anyone who buys one of these
processors has more dollars than sense. If you're considering buying one of these outrageously
expensive processors, do yourself a favor. Buy a $400 or $500 high-end mainstream processor
instead, and use part of the extra money for more memory, a better video card, a better display,
better speakers, or some other component that will actually provide a noticeable benefit. Either
that, or keep the extra money in the bank.

Dual-core processors
By early 2005, AMD and Intel had both pushed their processor cores to about the
fastest possible speeds, and it had become clear that the only practical way to increase
processor performance significantly was to use two processors. Although it's possible to
build systems with two physical processors, doing that introduces many complexities,
not least a doubling of the already-high power consumption and heat production. AMD,
later followed by Intel, chose to go dual-core.

Combining two cores in one processor isn't exactly the same thing as doubling the
speed of one processor. For one thing, there is overhead involved in managing the two
cores that doesn't exist for a single processor. Also, in a single-tasking environment, a
program thread runs no faster on a dual-core processor than it would on a single-core
processor, so doubling the number of cores by no means doubles application
performance. But in a multitasking environment, where many programs and their
threads are competing for processor time, the availability of a second processor core
means that one thread can run on one core while a second thread runs on the second
core.

The upshot is that a dual-core processor typically provides 25% to 75% higher
performance than a similar single-core processor if you multitask heavily. Dual-core
performance for a single application is essentially unchanged unless the application is
designed to support threading, which many processor-intensive applications are. (For
example, a web browser uses threading to keep the user interface responsive even
when it's performing a network operation.) Even if you were running only unthreaded
applications, though, you'd see some performance benefit from a dual-core processor.
This is true because an operating system, such as Windows XP, that supports dual-core
processors automatically allocates different processes to each core.
AMD Athlon 64 X2

The AMD Athlon 64 X2, shown in Figure 5-4, has several things going for it, including
high performance, relatively low power requirements and heat production, and
compatibility with most existing Socket 939 motherboards. Alas, while Intel has priced
its least expensive dual-core processors in the sub-$250 range, the least expensive
AMD dual-core models initially sold in the $800 range, which is out of the question for
most upgraders. Fortunately, by late 2005 AMD had begun to ship more reasonably
priced dual-core models, although availability is limited.

Figure 5-4: AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor (image courtesy of AMD, Inc.)

For more information about Athlon 64 X2 processor models,


visit http://www.amd.com/athlon64.

Intel Pentium D

The announcement of AMD's Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor caught Intel


unprepared. Under the gun, Intel took a cruder approach to making a dual-core
processor. Rather than build an integrated dual-core processor as AMD had with its
Athlon 64 X2 processors, Intel essentially slapped two slower Pentium 4 cores on one
substrate and called it the Pentium D dual-core processor.
The 800-series 90 nm Smithfield-core Pentium D, shown in Figure 5-5, is a stop-gap
kludge for Intel, designed to counter the AMD Athlon 64 X2 until Intel can bring to
market its real answer, the dual-core 65 nm Presler-core processor, which is likely to be
designated the 900-series Pentium D. The Presler-based dual-core processors will be
fully integrated, compatible with existing dual-core Intel-compatible motherboards, and
feature reduced power consumption, lower heat output, twice as much L2 cache, and
considerably higher performance.

Figure 5-5: Intel Pentium D dual-core processor (image courtesy of Intel Corporation)

Reading the foregoing, you might think we had only contempt for the 800-series
Pentium D processors. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. They're a kludge,
yes, but they're a reasonably cheap, very effective kludge, assuming that you have a
motherboard that supports them. We extensively tested an early sample of the least
expensive 800-series Pentium D, the 820. The 820 runs at 2.8 GHz, and under light,
mostly single-tasking use, the 820 "feels" pretty much like a 2.8 GHz Prescott-core
Pentium 4. As we added more and more processes, the difference became clear.
Instead of bogging down, as the single-core Prescott would have done, the Pentium D
provided snappy response to the foreground process.

For more information about Pentium D processor models,


visit http://www.intel.com/products/processor/....
AMD and Intel processor summaries
Table 5-2 lists the important characteristics of current AMD processors, including the
special features they support.

Table 5-2: Table 5-2. AMD processor summary

Table 5-3 lists the important characteristics of current Intel processors, including the
special features they support.
Table 5-3: Intel processor summary

SPECIAL FEATURES

Special features are not always implemented across an entire line of processors. For example,
we list the Pentium D 8XX-series processors as supporting EM64T, SSE3, EIST, and dual core.
At the time we wrote this, three Pentium D 8XX models were available: the 2.8 GHz 820, the 3.0
GHz 830, and the 3.2 GHz 840. The 830 and 840 models support all of the special features
listed. The 820 model supports EM64T, SSE3, and dual-core operation, but not EIST. If a
special feature listed as being supported by a particular line of processors is important to you,
verify that it is supported in the exact processor model you intend to buy.

About Different Types of


Processors
By Jennifer Claerr
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There are many different processors on the market. However, there are only
a few that you should consider purchasing. Whether you're buying a
computer off the shelf, building it from scratch or upgrading your CPU, you
must put some time and thought into which processor to buy. The choice you
make today will affect your computer's speed and functionality for years to
come.
The processor you choose will affect every function of your computer.

Types

There are two primary manufacturers of computer microprocessors. Intel and


Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) lead the market in terms of speed and
quality. Intel's desktop CPUs include Celeron, Pentium and Core. AMD's
desktop processors include Sempron, Athlon and Phenom. Intel makes
Celeron M, Pentium M and Core mobile processors for notebooks. AMD
makes mobile versions of its Sempron and Athlon, as well as the Turion
mobile processor which comes in Ultra and Dual-Core versions. Both
companies make both single-core and multi-core processors.

Features

Each processor has a clock speed which is measured in gigahertz (GHz).


Also, a processor has a front side bus which connects it with the system's
random access memory (RAM.) CPUs also typically have two or three levels
of cache. Cache is a type of fast memory which serves as a buffer between
RAM and the processor. The processor's socket type determines the
motherboard type where it can be installed.

Function

A microprocessor is a silicon chip containing millions of microscopic


transistors. This chip functions as the computer's brain. It processes the
instructions or operations contained within executable computer programs.
Instead of taking instructions directly off of the hard drive, the processor
takes its instructions from memory. This greatly increases the computer's
speed.

Considerations

If you're thinking about upgrading your processor yourself, you must check
your motherboard specs first. The CPU you install must have the same
socket size as the slot on the motherboard. Also, when you install a new
processor, you may need to install a heat sink and fan. This is because faster
processors produce more heat than slower ones. If you fail to protect your
new CPU from this heat, you may end up replacing the processor.

Size

When it comes to processors, size matters. Whether you're buying a new


computer or upgrading your old one, you must get the fastest processor you
can afford. This is because the processor will become obsolete very quickly.
Choosing a 3.6 GHz processor over a 2 GHz today can buy you several years
of cheap computing time. Also check the speed of the front side bus (FSB)
when purchasing your new computer or CPU. A front side bus of 800 MHz or
greater is essential for fast processing speeds. The processor's cache is also
important. Make sure it has at least 1 MB of last level cache if your
computing needs are average. If you're an extreme gamer or if you run
intensive graphics programs, get the processor with the largest cache that
fits your budget. There can be hundreds of dollars' difference between the
cheapest processors and the most expensive ones. However, investing just a
little extra cash can get you a much better processor.
Benefits

Getting a processor with a dual, triple or quad core can make a significant
difference in the processing power of your computer. It's like having two,
three or four separate processors installed on your computer at one time.
These processors work together to make your computer multitask faster and
with greater efficiency. Getting a CPU with a larger front side bus can
enhance the processor's ability to communicate with RAM, which will
increase your computer's overall speed.

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