{"id":299,"date":"2022-03-21T16:26:01","date_gmt":"2022-03-21T16:26:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-698089-2344727.cloudwaysapps.com\/2022\/03\/21\/9-cpu-specifications-explained\/"},"modified":"2023-06-28T07:13:11","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T07:13:11","slug":"9-cpu-specifications-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/9-cpu-specifications-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"9 CPU Specifications Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76b927f elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-content\" data-id=\"76b927f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-content.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The CPU is called the brain of a computer for a reason. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Also known as microprocessor, it is a small chip that fits into your motherboard and performs all the calculations required to run a computer. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In simple words, it takes input, performs some operations based on that input, and produces an output.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When you\u2019re out in the market looking to build your new PC, or even buying a pre-built system, understanding the CPU is crucial if you want to get most out of your machine. But this is not easy as many people don\u2019t understand different specs and terms that differentiate one CPU from another.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In this article, we will help you understand these terms to make a better decision while choosing one for your system.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"no_bullets\">\n<p class=\"toc_title\">Table of Contents <span class=\"toc_toggle\">[<a href=\"#\">hide<\/a>]<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"toc_list\">\n<li><a href=\"#1_Manufacturers\">1. Manufacturers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#2_CPU_Socket\">2. CPU Socket<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#3_Chipset\">3. Chipset<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#4_Core_Count\">4. Core Count<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#5_HyperThreadingMultithreading\">5. HyperThreading\/Multithreading<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#6_Clock_Speeds_Overclocking\">6. Clock Speeds &amp; Overclocking<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#7_CPU_Cache\">7. CPU Cache<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#8_TDP_or_Thermal_Output\">8. TDP or Thermal Output<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#9_Integrated_Graphics\">9. Integrated Graphics<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Conclusion\">Conclusion:<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"1_Manufacturers\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">1. Manufacturers<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In laptop and desktop CPUs, there are two major brands: AMD and Intel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Until a few years ago, Intel was a premium brand with powerful CPUs while AMD\u2019s offerings were budget-friendly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But all of this has changed since July 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With the introduction of 7nm micro-architecture, AMD has managed to take the lead in productivity apps while Intel CPUs give slightly better gaming experience due to their better single-core performance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But due to their backward compatibility and relatively more cores\/threads, AMD CPUs are currently being considered a better band for the buck \u2013 unless you get one from Intel at a big discount.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"2_CPU_Socket\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2. CPU Socket<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Whenever you buy a CPU, make sure you put it into a motherboard with a compatible socket.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A socket is the area of the motherboard where you put a CPU. Different socket types have different sizes and pin structures, and a CPU won\u2019t physically fit nicely into a non-compatible socket.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In terms of socket compatibility, AMD takes a good lead over the Intel. All of their Ryzen series processors, from 1st to 4th Gen, support AM4 socket, giving you plenty of <a href=\"https:\/\/pcbuilderz.com\/best-motherboard-cpu-combo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">motherboard-CPU combo<\/a> options.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On the other hand, Intel\u2019s current 10th Gen CPUs support LGA 1200 socket, and new 11th Gen models will most probably do the same. The older 8th and 9th Gen processors support LGA 1151 socket and therefore are not compatible with the new Z490 and Z590 motherboards.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"3_Chipset\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">3. Chipset<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As crucial as CPU is, it does not do all work on its own and relies on the motherboard chipset to communicate with your PC components.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A chipset determines what features can or cannot be present in a motherboard. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For example, it determines the number of USB ports, number of PCIe slots, and RAM slots a motherboard can have. Not only that, it can decide whether or not you can do things like overclocking with your CPU.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Chipset compatibility is the most critical factor you should look at when buying a CPU for a motherboard or vice versa. It\u2019s because different chipsets are compatible with different CPUs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For example, the new Ryzen 5000 series processors are compatible with X570, B550, and <a href=\"https:\/\/pcbuilderz.com\/best-a520-motherboard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A520 chipset<\/a>, but not with the older X370 and A320 chipsets. The same goes for Intel CPUs where new 11th Gen processors are compatible with only Z490 and Z590 chipsets.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"4_Core_Count\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">4. Core Count<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In the beginning, CPUs would come with single cores. When intensive software\/games started to push the limit for those single-cores CPUs, both Intel and AMD began to make dual-core CPUs where you get two cores in one processor.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Once those dual-core CPUs started to hit the performance plateau, we saw the release of quad-cores and octa-core CPUs. The trend has continued to this day, and now we have some consumer CPUs, like the Ryzen 5950X, with 16 cores. But this is not the end.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">AMD has the Threadripper CPUs for enthusiasts and professionals, and the flagship CPU of this series (the 3990X) gives you no less than 64 cores \u2013 but it costs 4000 bucks as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">An average user certainly doesn\u2019t need this many cores. Even some of the biggest AAA titles today can <strong>only utilize up to six CPU cores<\/strong>. So if gaming is your only focus, it doesn\u2019t make any sense to go beyond Ryzen 5\/i5 processors.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"5_HyperThreadingMultithreading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">5. HyperThreading\/Multithreading<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Another CPU technology to emerge in recent times is Hyperthreading\/multi-threading. Named as such by Intel and AMD respectively, they essentially mean the same thing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">So what\u2019s a thread?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You can think of it as a logical core. Two threads inside one CPU core allow that core to process two tasks simultaneously. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Among Ryzen CPUs, all of them (from Ryzen 3 to Ryzen 9 models) support multi-threading. But Intel has reserved this feature in their flagship i7 and i9 series only.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">So having extra threads is beneficial?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Like so many other answers related to PC hardware, it depends. In productivity apps, multi-threading certainly helps. It is one of the main reasons why Ryzen CPUs perform better than Intel\u2019s in apps like Adobe Premiere Pro, Blender, and Handbrake.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On the other, <em>PC games rely on single-core performance<\/em>. It is why i5 CPUs match Ryzen 5 models in gaming despite having half CPU threads.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"6_Clock_Speeds_Overclocking\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">6. Clock Speeds &amp; Overclocking<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The clock speed reflects on how many instructions a CPU can handle in one second, and it\u2019s measured in Hertz (Hz). So when a CPU\u2019s clock speed is listed at 3.4 GHz, it means that it can process 3.4 billion instructions in one second.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In their models\u2019 specs-sheets, both Intel and AMD list base frequency and max turbo frequency. While base frequency is the speed at which a CPU performs out of the box, the max turbo frequency is the speed it can achieve by overlocking.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Overclocking is a method through which we can <strong>increase the clock speed of a CPU<\/strong>. It\u2019s trendy among PC enthusiasts and can help you get the most of your CPU. The downside is that it makes your CPU consume a lot of power and produce a lot more heat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Both Intel and AMD have different approaches to overlocking. All of Ryzen CPUs are \u2018unlocked\u2019 out of the box \u2013 meaning you can overclock them. However, Intel only provides this feature in their K-suffix models (such as i5-10600K).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Whichever brand you go with, make sure to have an overclock-supporting motherboard, an adequate cooling solution, a high-quality PSU, and a PC case with good airflow, before starting anything.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"7_CPU_Cache\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">7. CPU Cache<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Cache memory is the fastest memory you have in your system and retrieves data to and from the CPU. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It\u2019s similar to the RAM because data is not stored permanently here. But being part of the CPU itself, it\u2019s much faster (and much smaller-sized) than the RAM.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The CPU cache is further divided into three levels:&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.muo.com\/tag\/what-is-cpu-cache\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">L1, L2, and L3 cache<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> \u2013 with L1 being the fastest and L3 being the slowest. Generally speaking, more cache size means better real-world performance, but it can\u2019t be considered as a standalone spec when you\u2019re looking for a CPU.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"8_TDP_or_Thermal_Output\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">8. TDP or Thermal Output<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The TDP or Thermal Output indicates the maximum power a CPU is expected to need. It also determines how powerful a cooling system is required to cool down that CPU \u2013 something you should note if you intend to overclock it later.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The lower TDP generally means a CPU will consume less power to operate and will need a less powerful CPU cooler to work. Likewise, the high-TDP CPUs (such as Ryzen 9 5900X) consume more power and require better PSU and cooler, as a result.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"9_Integrated_Graphics\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">9. Integrated Graphics<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As its name suggests, integrated graphics are a graphics processing unit integrated into your CPU. It\u2019s useful for users who do not want a dedicated graphics card on their PC.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Like many other things, AMD and Intel have different approaches to this feature.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Most Intel CPUs feature an integrated graphics unit, except the F-suffix models (such as i5-9600f).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On the other hand, AMD does not put these integrated graphics with its CPUs at all. But they do have some APUs (Accelerated Processing Units), such as Ryzen 3200G and 3400G, that have more powerful integrated graphics unit (Vega 7\/9) than what you get in Intel models.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As far as these units\u2019 actual value is concerned, it depends on what games you want to play and your budget.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Intel\u2019s iGPUs aren\u2019t made for any gaming. However, Ryzen APUs can give you some entry-level gaming at a lower resolution, such as 720p.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But still, they can\u2019t come close to even the base-level dedicated GPUs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Thus, we would always recommend going for dedicated graphics solutions as long as your budget allows.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Conclusion\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Conclusion:<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Buying the CPU is a crucial part when you\u2019re building\/upgrading a PC. But after knowing what each of its specs means, you can make this whole process much easier for yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The CPU is called the brain of a computer for a reason. Also known as microprocessor, it is a small chip that fits into your motherboard and performs all the calculations required to run a computer. In simple words, it takes input, performs some operations based on that input, and produces an output. When you\u2019re [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=299"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}