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| Net World Directory: computer hardware-CPU |
CPU Basics
The central processing unit (Often called CPU) is the brain of a computer and this the location for processing of information and data on the computer.
A processor processes binary data and will retrieve some data, perform some process on that data, and then store the result in either its own internal memory which is know as cache or the systems memory.
If the information for the process say 32-bit then the processor can process 32 bits of data at one time, if it says 64-bit, then it can process 64 bits of data at any one time. So a 64-bit processor is twice as fast compared to a 32-bit processor.
Software also come in different bits, 16-bits, 32-bits ore 64-bits. If a 32-bit processor is working on a 64-bit software, it would take two clock cycles to process one set of data. This would result in a bottleneck.
Processor speed
You may have heard about the processor speeds. New computers may have a processor speed of 3 to 4Ghz. This processor speed refers to the internal clock speed of the processor. Say you have a processor with 4Ghz speed. This means that it has a speed to process data internally 4 billion times a second in every clock cycle, so if the processor is a 64-bit processor running at 4GHz then it can potentially process 64 bits of data simultaneously, 4 billion times a second. Amazing right?
Intel Processors
Intel's new Celeron D 351 is the heir-apparent to the current Celeron D S775 processor series. The two chips are nearly identical, apart from the addition of 64-bit processing technology, which Intel calls EM64T.
The microprocessor, which is the brain that controls a computer, has been crunching numbers at 32 bits for more than a decade. But companies such as Intel, AMD and IBM are preparing for the next generation of software with chips that can handle more instructions using a computing technology similar to that found in servers. Sixty-four bit chips can process some functions faster and easily accommodate more than 4GB of memory. More memory generally equals better performance, although most PCs today only come with 512MB to 1GB of memory.
AMD is expected to release its 64-bit mainstream Sempron PC processor sometime in mid-July. IBM has been supplying Apple Computer with 64-bit computing with its PowerPC 970, or "G5," processor since June 2003.
The new Celeron features 256KB of advanced memory cache, a 533MHz system bus for faster data transfers, a processor speed of 3.20GHz and hardware support that complements Microsoft Windows Service Pack 2.
Intel says the chip will let consumers surf the Web, play basic games, e-mail, create word processing documents and track home finances more efficiently than before. Intel is also outfitting the new Celeron with two corresponding chipsets that allow for processing high-definition video, 7.1 surround sound audio and improved graphics capabilities.