What is a Processor ??
A processor or micro-processor is the 'brains' of a computer system. It is the processor that controls the working of all of the hardware and software.
The processor is sometimes referred to as the Central Processing Unit (CPU).
There are many processors available and processor specification is usually one of the first things considered when buying a new personal computer (PC). The type of processor and its speed have the greatest impact on the overall performance of a computer system. Processor performance is related directly to its speed of operation and its architecture
Competition among processor manufacturers is fierce and because of this there is a wide and diverse choice of processors in the market place. Processor manufacturers, such as Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) are continually developing more advanced processors and new models are released within the space of months rather than years. This is in stark contrast to earlier processor developments, such as the 8086, 80286 and 80386 which were released years apart.
Types of Processor :-
A processor connects directly to the computer's motherboard. Processors can be categorized by the way they are connected to the motherboard.
There are two main types of processor connections to motherboards:
- Sockets
- Slots
Processor Sockets :-
The type of processor that is connected to a socket is a square package with many pins (more than 250) on the bottom surface of the chip, which connects to a motherboard by a Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket. The pins are found around all sides of the package and there will be more than one row of pins on each side.
Some examples of Processor Sockets -
The pictures show the top and bottom of an Intel 486 processor. This processor must be lined up properly before it is inserted in the socket. It will only fit correctly one way and to help the installer one corner is different from the others. The processor does not have to be pushed firmly into place but rather popped into place and then secured using a locking arm.
The type of processor that is connected to a socket is a square package with many pins (more than 250) on the bottom surface of the chip, which connects to a motherboard by a Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket. The pins are found around all sides of the package and there will be more than one row of pins on each side.
Some examples of Processor Sockets -
The pictures show the top and bottom of an Intel 486 processor. This processor must be lined up properly before it is inserted in the socket. It will only fit correctly one way and to help the installer one corner is different from the others. The processor does not have to be pushed firmly into place but rather popped into place and then secured using a locking arm.
Processor Slot
The other form that processors take is a chip soldered on to a card, which then connects to a motherboard by a slot similar to an expansion slot. The picture slows a slot for a Pentium 3 processor.
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