How to Compare & Contrast the Characteristics of Each Type of CPU
- 1). Note the speeds of the processors you're comparing. This is expressed in terms of gigahertz (GHz). A processor that operates at 1 GHz works to execute software instructions 1 billion times per second. The faster the speed, the more often the CPU performs the calculations necessary to run the programs open on your computer.
- 2). Look at the number of cores present on each CPU. A core is a unit that can independently process software instructions. The more cores a CPU has the more tasks it can perform simultaneously. Most processors have at least two cores, and it is not uncommon for a unit to have four cores. In order for your computer to take advantage of multiple cores the software you're using must be designed to do so. Software manufacturers will specify this by stating that their programs are "threaded" or "multithreaded."
- 3). Compare the amount of cache memory, or "cache," present on the processors in question. Cache is a form of high-speed memory located directly on the processor. This stores the information that is most relevant to the processor's needs at a given time. It supplies this information to the processor much more quickly than the computer's RAM. Its size is expressed in kilobytes (KB) or megabytes (MB). The larger the cache, the less time the processor has to waste waiting for data from the RAM or the hard drive.
- 4). Note whether or not the processor is 32-bit or 64-bit. This is the unit's instruction set. The main difference between the two is that computers with 32-bit processors cannot use any more than 4GB of RAM. 64-bit processors can address more, depending on restrictions from the operating system. The additional RAM minimizes the time the computer has to wait for information from the slower hard drive.
- 5). Look at the lithography of each processor. This is expressed in nanometers (nm). The feature refers to the size of the transistors, the tiny electrical switches that enable the processor to perform its calculations. Transistor size not only determines how many transistors can be present on a given CPU but how hot the CPU gets. The more transistors present, the more complex calculations a processor can perform. The cooler the CPU, the less likely it will be to produce errors. Thus, when it comes to lithography, the smaller the better.
Source...