PROCESSING HARDWARE
JOHN KWAO DAWSON
• A processor (CPU) is the logic circuitry that
responds to and processes the
basic instructions that drive a computer.
• The CPU is seen as the main and most crucial
integrated circuitry (IC) chip in a computer, as it
is responsible for interpreting most of
computers commands.
• Its speed is measured in terms of megahertz
• CPUs will perform most basic
– arithmetic
– logic
– I/O operations
– allocate commands for other chips and
components running in a computer.
STRUCTURE OF A PROCESSOR
• The two main competitors in the processor
market are Intel and AMD.
• Central Processing Unit (CPU) consists of the
following features:
– CPU is considered as the brain of the computer.
– CPU performs all types of data processing
operations
– It stores data, intermediate results, and instructions
(program).
– It controls the operation of all parts of the computer
• CPU itself has following three components.
– Memory or Storage Unit
– Control Unit
– ALU(Arithmetic Logic Unit)
• The fetching, decoding, executing and write
back the instructions are the four main
primary functions of the processor.
Architecture of a dual core processor
• While the number of cores a processor has is
important, it isn't the whole story
• When it comes to Intel's Core i3, i5 and i7 CPUs,
their relative levels of processing power are
based on a collection of criteria involving their
– number of cores
– clock speed (in GHz)
– size of cacheTurbo Boost 2.0
– Hyper-Threading
What is hyper-threading?
• enabling a single core to serve multiple
threads at once by virtually doubling the cores
that your operating system perceives.
What is Turbo Boost?
• Turbo Boost tech allows a processor to
dynamically increase its clock speed as the
need arises
CPU SUFFIX LETTERS
Brand Name
• Intel naming scheme begins with the brand
name
• the most common Intel processor names
begin with Intel Core, Intel Pentium, and Intel
Celeron.
Brand Modifier
• This piece is not included in all Intel processor
family; Intel Pentium and Intel Celeron
processors do not have a brand Modifier name
• While the Intel Core™ processor series
Example brand modifiers i3, i5, i7, and i9.
Generation Indicator
• All Intel core processors have a generation
number associated with them.
• In a four-digit processor number, the first digit
typically represents the generation (e.g., a
processor with the digits 4200 is a 4th gen
processor).
• In the 10th Generation Intel Core processors,
the first two digits in the product number will
be 10
SKU Numeric Digits
• Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) number located at
the final three digits of the product number.
• When the SKU number is high, this means the
processor has more features.
• Both processors should belong to the same
brand and generation for this rule to be valid.
Product Line Suffix
• This is a key indicator of Intel processor capabilities
CPUs with the letter K
• this indicates that the chips multiplier is unlocked,
meaning that it can be easily overclocked if you
have a similarly enabled motherboard.
CPUs with the letters HK
• Intel doesn't talk about it as much, but the K in
HK CPUs
• same thing as the letter K referenced above.
CPUs with the letter H
• H stands for High-Performance Graphics
• Used to designate Intel's higher-end offerings
in the mobile segment that consumes more
power.
CPUs with the letters HQ
• This designation is the same as that of the letter H in H
CPUs.
• It is another mobile-specific letter denotation.
• Many of those higher power chips also have a Q on
the end that stands for Quad-Core, which is why you'll
often see HQ on more expensive laptops.
CPUs with the letters U and Y
• U stands for Ultra-Low Power
• Y represents Extremely Low Power.
CPUs with the letter G
• The newer G CPUs feature Radeon RX Vega
graphics built from Intel's biggest non-
competitor: AMD (Advanced Micro Devices),
specifically its division Radeon Technologies
Group, which is a different company.
CPUs with the letter X
• This indicates a very high-end unlocked consumer
CPU with the most cores and the highest prices.
• It's sitting atop the pile in the Core i9 7980XE for
Extreme Edition (not to be confused with E for
ECC memory).
