- CPU
CPU
Short-term reference for Central Processing Unit. The CPU is the dedicated processing unit in a computer that processes data and interprets computer program instructions. Intel and AMD are the two major vendors of processors today.
- Microprocessor
Microprocessor
A CPU manufactured as a single integrated circuit is known as a microprocessor. Before the microprocessor, CPUs carried other components of computer systems in their onboard architecture. The first microprocessor was created by Intel Corporation in 1971, and was called the Intel 4004.
- Motherboard
Motherboard
The central or primary circuit board making up the complex computer system. Intel and AMD CPUs require their own motherboard chipsets and cannot be interchanged with each other; however, not all Intel or AMD CPUs will fit into a designated motherboard for that vendor. All CPUs have a certain “pin” or “socket” number, or simply a product name, which is also identified on a motherboard, certifying the board for the insertion of a certain CPU (i.e.: an Intel Core™2 Duo CPU will not fit or work with an Intel Pentium® 4-acceptable motherboard or an AMD-certified motherboard).
- Intel Corporation
Intel Corporation
The world’s largest semiconductor company and the leading manufacturer of X86 series microprocessors. Founded in 1968 by Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore as Integrated Electronics Corporation, Intel is based in Santa Clara, California. In 1971, Intel created the first microprocessor called the Intel 4004
- AMD Corporation
AMD Corporation
AMD, which stands for Advanced Micro Devices, is the world’s second largest manufacturer of X86 series microprocessors. Founded in 1969 by a group of former executives from Fairchild Semiconductor, AMD is based in Sunnyvale, California. In 1999, AMD launched the first 64-bit microprocessor, which it calls AMD64.
- Silicon
Silicon
Characterized by the chemical element Si, Silicon is the eighth most common element in the universe by mass. Silicon is the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust and is extracted from sand and clay. Silicon is the principal component of almost all semiconductor devices, and is used for its extreme conductivity to electricity.
- Semiconductor
Semiconductor
A solid whose electrical conductivity can be controlled over a wide range, either permanently or dynamically. A semiconductor device is usually made from silicon, although there are certain semiconductors that are not made from silicon.
- Transistor
Transistor
A semiconductor device that uses a small amount of voltage or electrical current to control a larger charge in voltage or current. The transistor is the fundamental building block of circuitry that governs the operation of computers. Most of the transistors in a computer are located on a motherboard.
- Circuit
Circuit
A complete path in which an electrical current can flow.
- Integrated Circuit
Integrated Circuit
A miniaturized electronic circuit, consisting mainly of semiconductor devices, that has been manufactured on the surface of a thin substrate conductive material.
Intel Core™2 Duo integrated circuit
- X86 Architecture
X86 Architecture
The generic name of microprocessor architecture first developed and manufactured by Intel. X86 architecture is the mainstream architecture used in most notebook and desktop PCs today by Intel and AMD.
- Hertz
Hertz
Abbreviated as Hz, hertz is a unit used to describe one cycle per second (i.e.: 100Hz translates to 100 cycles per second). The clock rate speed of a processor is usually referenced in hertz measurements as the speed in which a processor can accomplish one cycle of data in seconds, referencing the speed of the processor’s core clock. Today’s processor core clocks are usually measured in Gigahertz, or 10 hertz multiplied exponentially by 9 (109), or billions of cycles per second. Sometimes, this number is referenced in the processor’s name (i.e.: Intel Core 2 Duo X6800 2.93GHz).
- Clock Rate
Clock Rate
The clock rate of a processor is only useful for providing comparisons between computer chips in the same processor family. Clock rates of a CPU should not be used to compare the speed of one processor to another; instead, a benchmark should be used. A clock rate can be very misleading, since the amount of work different CPUs can perform in one cycle varies.
- Cache
Cache
A collection of data duplicating original values stored elsewhere in the computer earlier, where the original data is expensive (in terms of access time) to fetch or compute relative to reading again directly from the cache.
- CPU Cache
CPU Cache
Used by a CPU to reduce the average time to access memory. The cache is a smaller, faster memory which stores copies of the data most frequently used in main memory locations. A CPU with a larger cache will be able to access more mainstream, or used, data without having to spend more time accessing it for the first time. The CPU’s cache is usually shown in the name (i.e.: Intel Core 2 Duo X6800 2.93GHz w/ 8MB Cache)
- Front Side Bus
Front Side Bus
Bi-directional data bus that carries all electronic signal information between the CPU and other devices within the system, such as memory, graphics cards, hard drives, and PCI-e and PCI cards.
- Northbridge
Northbridge
One of the two chips in the core logic chipset on a motherboard. The Northbridge typically handles communication between the CPU, memory, and graphics card.
- Southbridge
Southbridge
One of the two chips in the core logic chipset on a motherboard. The Southbridge typically handles communication between the PCI bus, real time clock, APM (power management), and USB devices.
- Multi-core Processors
Multi-core Processors
A multi-core processor is a processor that combines two or more independent processors into a single system or processing die. A dual-core or quad-core processor usually contains two or four independent microprocessors. Multi-core processors are often contained in a single integrated circuit; however, there can be a multi-core system with a dual socket motherboard (2x single-core). Multi-core processors allow a computer to perform more functions and applications in parallel by devoting one processing core to each function. Currently, a quad-core processor contains the highest amount of independent microprocessors.
Example of a multi-core processor integrated circuit
Example of a dual CPU socket motherboard
- Thread
Thread
Short for a thread of execution. Threads are a way for a program to split itself into two or more tasks, simultaneously running each task together. By using multi-core processors, like a dual-core processor, a CPU can run two different tasks on each processor simultaneously.
- Heatsink
Heatsink
An environment or object that absorbs or redirects and dissipates heat from a CPU. Alienware offers liquid cooling systems for heatsinks in some of its systems.
Alienware's Exclusive LiquidChilling system.