Modern CPUs

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 Contents
• Architecture
• Processors
– Intel
– AMD
• Comparing Processors
• Parallel Processing
• Standard computer ports
• Expansion Slots
– PCI
– PCIE
– AGP
• PC Cards
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 A Look Inside The Processor
• Architecture
Computer architecture is a set of rules and methods that
describe the functionality, organization, and
implementation of computer systems
– Determines
• Location of CPU parts
• Bit size
• Number of registers
• Pipelines
– Main difference between CPUs

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 Microcomputer Processors
• Intel
– Leading manufacturer of processors
– Intel 4004 was worlds first microprocessor
– IBM PC powered by Intel 8086
– Processors
• Centrino
• Itanium
• Pentium IV
• Xeon
• Core i3,i5,i7

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 Microcomputer Processors
• Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)
– Main competitor to Intel
– Originally produced budget products
– Current products outperform Intel
– Current processors
• Sempron
• Athlon FX 64
• Athlon XP

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 Comparing Processors
• CPU frequency
• Core/Thread count
• Instructions per clock cycle
• Bits
• Cache
• Power consumption
• Built-in graphics
• Other features

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 Comparing Processors

• CPU frequency - how many GHz. The most

important parameter. The more, the better.

• Core/Thread count - how many actual cores you

have, and how many threads the cores have. For
example, i7 may have 4 cores and 8 threads,
whereas Core 2 Duo has only 2 cores and 2 threads.
That means you can run 8 (better 4) concurrent
program threads on i7, compared to 2 on Core 2 Duo,
which results in better multitasking/multithreading.
This is the main reason why i7 2.4GHz is more
powerful than a 2.5/3GHz Core 2 Duo.
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 Comparing Processors
• IPC - instructions per clock cycle. Another important
parameter. Like GHz, the greater, the better.
• Bits - 32-bit, 64-bit. A high-performance application
created for 64-bit CPU may have better performance
than 32-bit performance.
• Cache - a very fast but little memory placed near to
CPU. Usually improves performance (if we omit
cache-miss, but that's another theme)
• Power consumption - watts consumed by CPU and
produced heat. This is important especially for mobile
devices, tablets and notebooks which have battery
and don't have good cooling systems. Does not affect
performance.
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 Comparing Processors

• Built-in graphics - newer CPUs usually have better

graphics than old ones and support more monitors. Of
course that's not enough to run new high-performance
games but is good for home/office usage and low-end
gaming. But built-in graphics is not so important when
you already have graphics card.
• Other features - features like Hyperthreading, Turbo
Boost. Some of them may have good impact on
performance, others may be useful for specific cases.
Most of them don't increase performance on daily
usage.

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 Advanced Processor Topics
• Parallel Processing
– Multiple processors in a system
– Symmetric Multiple Processing
• Number of processors is a power of 2
– Massively Parallel Processing
• Thousands of processors
• Mainframes and super computers

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Extending The Processors Power
• Standard computer ports
– Keyboard and mouse ports
– USB ports
– Parallel
– Network
– Modem
– Audio
– Serial
– Video

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 Standard Computer Ports

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Extending The Processors Power
• Serial and parallel ports
– Connect to printers or modems
– Parallel ports move bits simultaneously
• Made of 8 – 32 wires
• Internal busses are parallel
– Serial ports move one bit
• Lower data flow than parallel
• Requires control wires
• UART converts from serial to parallel

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 Serial Communications

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 Parallel Communications

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Extending The Processors Power
• USB
– Universal Serial Bus
– Most popular external bus
– Supports up to 127 devices

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Extending the Processors Power
• Expansion slots
An expansion slot is a socket on the motherboard that is
used to insert an expansion card, which provides
additional features to a computer such as video, sound,
advanced graphics, Ethernet or memory. The expansion
slot alternatively referred to as a bus slot or expansion
port.

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Extending the Processors Power
• Expansion slots
– Allows users to configure the machine
– Slots allow the addition of new devices
– Devices are stored on cards
– Computer must be off before inserting

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Extending the Processors Power
• Expansion slots
• PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) is common in modern
PCs. This kind of bus is being succeeded by PCI Express.
Typical PCI cards used in PCs include: network cards, sound
cards, modems, extra ports such as USB or serial, TV tuner
cards and disk controllers. Video cards have outgrown the
capabilities of PCI because of their higher bandwidth
requirements.
• PCIE (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) was
introduced by Intel in 2004. It was designed to replace the
general-purpose PCI expansion bus and the AGP graphics card
interface. PCI express is not a bus but instead a point-to-point
conection of serial links called lanes. PCI Express cards have
faster bandwidth then PCI cards which make them more ideal for
high-end video cards.

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Extending the Processors Power
• Expansion slots
• AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) is a high-speed point-to-point
channel for attaching a graphics card to a computer’s
motherboard, primarily to assist in the acceleration of 3D
computer graphics. AGP has been replaced over the past couple
years by PCI Express. AGP cards and motherboards are still
available to buy, but they are becoming less common.

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Extending the Processors Power
• Expansion slots

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Extending the Processors Power
• PC Cards
An expansion card, also known as an
expansion board, adapter card or
accessory card, is a printed circuit board
that can be inserted into an electrical
connector, or expansion slot, on a
computer motherboard, backplane or riser
card to add functionality to a computer
system via the expansion bus.

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Extending the Processors Power
• PC Cards
Graphics Card

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Extending the Processors Power
• PC Cards
Sound Card

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Extending the Processors Power
• PC Cards
NIC (Network Interface Card)

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Extending the Processors Power
• Plug and play
– New hardware detected automatically
– Prompts to install drivers
– Non-technical users can install devices

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