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Computer
Processor
Purchasing & Upgrading Tips
by my-tech-guide.com
It
is said that processors determine the functionality of a
personal computer. In a time when we believe that bigger
is better, the same could be said for processors…or is this
simply an old wives’ tale?
When
selecting a processor for your computer, keep in mind that
the type itself is not as important as its compatibility
with the system’s motherboard. The motherboard,
with its slots and other built-in components, must be able
to work with the processor in order for the computer‘s
capabilities to be utilized properly, as well as its host
of upgrade potentials to be exploited as effectively as
possible. The computer’s motherboard holds the computer's
processor chip in place and then in turn allows all the
other components to connect up to it.
In
the “old” days of computing, the Intel 8080 was the first
processor on one chip that was used for the personal computer
market. It was first manufactured in 1974. These days we
are in the age of the Pentium 4, also manufactured by Intel,
which can run the same processes as the 1974 Pentium. This
newer version can run at more than 5,000 times the speed.
What has caused this increase in speed? The answer, for a
large part, lies with the number of transistors. The
more transistors a processor holds, the quicker commands
may be processed. The Pentium 4 "Prescott," for
example, holds 125,000,000 transistors, which hugely increases
the processor’s clock speed, by allowing for the execution
of several concurrent commands.
Another
functionality improving aspect of a processing is its data
width. The good old Intel 8080 offered a mere
8 bits of width, while the Pentium 4 "Prescott” sports
an impressive 32 bits and 64-bit bus. These innovations
greatly enhance a personal computer’s performance, yet
how do users truly benefit?
While
those computer users who do extensive video or photographic
editing on a variety of large images will most certainly
need this 64-bit technology, the average computer user who
creates word documents, visits chat rooms, reads e-mail,
and perhaps browses the Internet will not use the processor
to its full capabilities and hence will not need the latest
and the greatest processor. Thus, should you consider upgrading
your computer processor or perhaps replacing it with another
mode? You should keep in mind that, unless you are truly
using it to its full capacity with some of the applications
mentioned above, it will essentially allow for two main improvements:
Programs
which have specifically high processor requirements may
be run.
The
computer system will open and load computer programs at higher
speeds. This increase in speed is very often unnoticeable
to the average user, unless a significantly older processor
is exchanged for a significantly newer model.
So
what should an average computer user consider prior to sticking
a toe into the murky waters of computer processor purchasing
and upgrading? Here is a list of three important
questions:
Do
you really need to incur the expense of upgrading your
processor? Bigger might be better, but would you
really notice the improvement? If you are already running
a processor that it less than four years old, and if your
computer use is truly average, you will most likely not
notice any benefit of a bigger, better processor. Instead,
you leave yourself open to the headache of installing a
new component, which may bring with it a host of opportunities
for capability issues, extensive troubleshooting sessions
in case of faulty installation, and a waste of money if
you do not truly utilize it to its full potential.
How
old is your currently used personal computer? While
the familiarity with an old machine is most certainly comforting
in day to day work, it might be more cost effective to
upgrade the entire system rather than just the processor
-- especially if the increased functionality of the processor
requires the addition or upgrade of other system components.
This is an important consideration when it comes to the
attached video and audio output capabilities.
Who
manufactured your motherboard? If you system is
relatively new, and you decide that a processor upgrade
is the best course of action, please remember that the
new processor actually needs to be totally and completely
compatible with the motherboard!
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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