Comparing Computer Processor Speeds

For the best computer configuration for your computing needs, you need to be very discerning when choosing the CPU or processor. This choice has a direct impact on the computer's performance, as it's the central decision-making component. Just like the neuron firing in our brain, powers our thinking, the processor powers and executes each computing task.

There are many features that come into play, to make high-speed computer processors. Read ahead for more information about the four most important features that need to be compared to determine overall performance.

The clocking frequency or the clocking rate of the processor is supposed to be the single most important parameter, which decides the operating speed. Like every electronic IC, a clocking frequency signal is supplied to computer chips. It has a direct relation with the number of tasks that can be executed by the processor, within a second.

Higher the clocking frequency, greater are the number of tasks that can be executed sequentially by the processor, within a second. Intel and AMD have their clocking frequencies quoted in Gigahertz (GHz) or Megahertz (MHz). Go for chips with high clocking frequency, if your work demands high-speed performance.

Today's processors have more than one cores, unlike the old chips like Pentiun 4, which only had one. You will find chips with two, four, and even six cores now. A dual or quad core processor doesn't double or quadruple the computer's performance speed, but certainly enhances it substantially.

A quad core processor can certainly execute more functions, compared to a dual core one. With the introduction of hexa core (consisting of 6 cores) and octa core (set of 8 cores) or dual quad core (set of 2 quad cores) has substantially enhanced the processing speed of the the computing systems. This also depends upon the type of processor you use.

Deca core consists of 10 independent cores, helps you multitask several functions on your system with great speed, efficiency and ease. As systems with deca cores are expensive and still catching up in the market, quad core and octa core are commonly used units in processors today. Thus, going for more cores will provide you with better performance.

The L2 and L3 caches of a computer chip constitute its temporary working memory. The cache is the place where data is temporarily stored during execution of instructions. Greater L2 and L3 cache size provides more working memory to the processor, to execute complex algorithms in lesser time.

Higher the cache size, faster will the chip perform. For example, Intel core i7 980X, has a L3 cache size of 12 MB while Intel Core i7-6950X Processor Extreme Edition has a L3 cache size of 25 MB.

The Front Side Bus (FSB) is the network of channels through which the computer chip retrieves data from the memory. Higher the FSB operation frequency and greater the data bandwidth, the processor can deliver better performance.

Remember the given four key features, which are the clocking frequency, number of cores, cache size, and FSB frequency, while comparing two or more processors. The best processor will have the best combination of overall features, which include a high clocking frequency, greater number of cores, higher cache size, and a phenomenally high FSB frequency.

Many computer magazine websites and hardware retailers provide benchmark test results, by actually running various programs on a range of computer chips. Checking out such results tells you whether the on-paper specifications of a processor are converted into real world performance.