The Central Processing Unit of Your Computer.
The Central Processing Unit of your computer is its brain. The CPU is where the the computer's "thinking" happens. As its name suggests, the Central "Processing" Unit is where your computer processes all the information you feed into it :
- Crunching numbers in spreadsheets
- Editing documents in Word
- Displaying web pages
- Sorting data in databases
The faster your CPU, the faster it will perform the functions you want it to.
Leading computer processor manufacturer Intel have just released the 8th-Generation processor chip for desktop and laptop computers.
Understanding the model name of CPU's can be confusing at the best of times!
Here's our simple guide:
The first word in the processor name is the brand. Next is the brand modifier which could be either i3, i5 or i7. The first number after the hyphen is the generation indicator. The latest generation is the 8th so the very newest CPU's have an 8 here.
The numbers next indicate the part number and the letters indicate the processor line. The processor line is extremely important because it tells you roughly how much wattage, or electrical power the processor needs.
Core i3, Core i5, or Core i7?
When buying a desktop or laptop we recommend a minimum of a Core i5. As the numbering suggests, Core i3 is the slowest and i7 is fastest. For most business users the i5 model is more than adequate. Core i7 is intended for users of advanced software, for example intensive graphics, and engineering and gaming software.
Intel's new 8th Generation Core platform is only available in Core i5 and Core i7.
Quick Guide to CPU Terminology
Cores
The number of cores defines how many tasks the processor can do simultaneously. With 7th Generation Core this was usually 4 but with 8th Generation this has increased to 6.
Hyper-Threading
Enables multitasking. Again with 7th Generation Core this was usually 4 but with 8th Generation it is now usually 6.
Clock Speed
Measured in gigahertz, this is the number of cycles per second that the CPU can execute. The higher the number the faster the processor.
Turbo Boost
Temporarily raises the clock speed from its base frequency to a higher one in order to complete a task more quickly. Most Core i5 and i7 CPUs have this feature.
Cache
A small amount of Random Access Memory (RAM) that lives directly on the CPU, so speeding up repetitive tasks. Most CPUs have between 1 and 4MB of cache. The 8th Generation has 9Mb on most versions.
TDP (Thermal Design Power):
The amount of watts or electrical power, the CPU uses. More watts means better performance, but also higher temperatures and greater power consumption.
SO HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT COMPUTER FOR MY BUSINESS?
When choosing a new computer for your business you need to consider how it's going to be used.
- How many tasks will be running at the same time?
- How fast does it need to be?
- Are you using complex software that may require a higher spec?
For most business users the new Intel i5 model is more than adequate.
If you'd like to talk through your requirements with an expert, please call us on 01273 384100 or email us at sales@cnc-ltd.co.uk. We are always happy to have a no-obligation chat with you.
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