Datasheet
36
Chapter 1
N
Personal Computer System Components
Which CPU Do You Have?
The surest way to determine which CPU your computer is using is to open the case and
view the numbers stamped on the CPU, which today requires removal of the active heat
sink. However, you may be able to get an idea without opening the case and removing the
heat sink and fan, because many manufacturers indicate the type of processor by placing a
very obvious sticker somewhere on the case indicating the processor type. Failing this, you
can always go to the manufacturer’s website and look up the information on the model of
computer you have.
If you have a no-name clone, there is always the System Properties pages, found by right-
clicking My Computer (Computer in Windows Vista) and selecting Properties. The Gen-
eral tab, which is the default, contains such information. Even more detailed information
can be found by running the System Information utility from Tools · Advanced System
Information in the Windows XP Help and Support Center or by entering
MSINFOEXE in
the Start · Run dialog box for all modern Microsoft desktop operating systems.
Another way to determine a computer’s CPU is to save your work, exit any open programs,
and restart the computer. Watch closely as the computer returns to its normal state. You
should see a notation that tells you what chip you are using.
Multicore A processor that exhibits a multicore architecture has multiple completely
separate processor dies in the same package. The operating system and applications see
multiple processors in the same way that they see multiple processors in separate sockets.
As with HTT, the operating system must support SMP to benefit from the separate proces-
sors. In addition, SMP is not an enhancement if the applications run on the SMP system
are not written for parallel processing. Dual-core and quad-core processors are common
specific cases for the multicore technology.
Don’t be confused by Intel’s Core 2 labeling. The numeric component does not imply there
are two cores. There was a Core series of 32-bit mobile processors that featured one (Solo)
or two (Duo) processing cores on a single die (silicon wafer). The same dual-core die was
used for both classes of Core CPU. The second core was disabled for Core Solo processors.
The 64-bit Core 2 product line can be thought of as a second generation of the Core series.
Core 2, by the way, reunited Intel mobile and desktop computing—the Pentium 4 family
had a separate Pentium M for mobile computing. Intel describes and markets the microcode
of certain processors as “Core microarchitecture.” As confusing as it may sound, the Core
2 processors are based on the Core microarchitecture; the Core processors are not. Core 2
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