CompTIA exam study guide presentations by instructor Brian Ferrill, PACE-IT (Progressive, Accelerated Certifications for Employment in Information Technology) "Funded by the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Grant #TC-23745-12-60-A-53" Learn more about the PACE-IT Online program: www.edcc.edu/pace-it

1. Introduction to
the CPU.

2. Page 2
Instructor, PACE-IT Program – Edmonds Community College
Areas of Expertise Industry Certifications
 PC Hardware
 Network Administration
 IT Project Management
 Network Design
 User Training
 IT Troubleshooting
Qualifications Summary
Education
 M.B.A., IT Management, Western Governor’s University
 B.S., IT Security, Western Governor’s University
Entrepreneur, executive leader, and proven manger
with 10+ years of experience turning complex issues
into efficient and effective solutions.
Strengths include developing and mentoring diverse
workforces, improving processes, analyzing
business needs and creating the solutions
required— with a focus on technology.

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– CPU basics.
– Intel and AMD CPUs.
– Which one is right for you?
PACE-IT.

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Introduction to the CPU.

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According to Moore’s Law, the
number of transistors on an
integrated circuit will double
approximately every two years,
thus creating exponential growth
in the power of the integrated
circuit.

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– CPU (central processing unit)
characteristics.
» Speed: typically is the frequency at which one core of a CPU
operates; currently, it is measured in gigahertz (GHz). The
higher the number, the faster the core.
» Cores: the actual CPU on a chip. If a CPU is a multi-core CPU,
then it actually has multiple CPUs on the chip. The more cores,
the more simultaneous tasks that can be accomplished.
» Cache: expensive SRAM that is located on the CPU die. All
cache memory is much more expensive than regular RAM so
not much is used. L1 cache is typically embedded in each core
of the CPU. L2 cache is typically located just off of the CPU or
embedded in a coprocessor. L3 cache is still on the CPU die,
but is slower.
» Hyperthreading: the logical division of a CPU core. Through
special instruction sets in the CPU, it is made to look and
behave as if it has more than a single core.
Introduction to the CPU.

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– CPU characteristics.
» Virtualization support: when virtualization began it always
required fairly complex software and a host operating system.
CPU manufacturers have now built virtualization support into
some of their processors. This allows for easier and less
complex virtualization.
» GPU: some CPUs have an integrated graphics processing
unit (GPU) on the die. This allows for decent integrated graphic
performance, while not hindering the basic operation of the
CPU.
» Architecture (32-bit vs. 64-bit): this deals with the amount of
memory that the CPU can address (keep track of). A 32-bit
architecture can only address a maximum of 4 GB of RAM,
while a 64-bit architecture can address a theoretical maximum
of 16.8 million TB of RAM. In actuality, the maximum amount of
RAM that a 64-bit system can handle is established by the
motherboard manufacturer.
Introduction to the CPU.

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– Cooling.
» As a rule, the higher the performance of the CPU, the more
heat it will generate. Excessive heat will kill or burn out a CPU.
» Heat sinks: a device that is placed on top of the CPU. It
usually has a solid metal base but transitions to fins at the top.
A heat sink will draw heat away from the surface of the CPU
toward the top of the sink where it is radiated away into the
case.
» Thermal paste: a special compound that is used between a
CPU and a heat sink. It fills in the microscopic voids that are
present and will improve the performance of the heat sink.
» Fans: are used to help radiate the heat away from the heat
sink. They are designed to draw cooler air across the fins.
» Liquid-based cooling: works like a car’s radiator. The heat
sink actually has liquid being pumped through it to draw away
the heat; the liquid gets pumped to a radiator where the heat is
dissipated.
Introduction to the CPU.

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Introduction to the CPU.

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– Intel CPUs.
» Currently, Intel uses land grid array (LGA) CPUs. The
CPU does not have pins on the bottom of the chip; the
pins are located in the CPU socket with the CPU having
a corresponding contact point. Intel processors are
usually defined by their processor family (e.g., Haswell,
Ivy-trail) and socket type.
» Intel socket types: LGA 775, LGA 1155, LGA 1156, LGA
1366 (plus many others with more being introduced all
the time).
– AMD CPUs.
» Most AMD CPUs are pin grid array (PGA) CPUs. The
CPU has pins on the bottom that fit into holes in the
socket.
» AMD’s naming convention is based on processor family
and socket type as well.
» AMD socket types: 940, AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1,
F (as with Intel, this is not a comprehensive listing).
Introduction to the CPU.

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Introduction to the CPU.

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The key to determining the
correct CPU for you is
research.
When researching the purchase of a CPU, you need to consider
what you are trying to achieve as well as any budgetary
constraints. As a rule, the better the performance of the CPU, the
more it will cost and the newer the processor family is, the more it
will cost. Also in most situations, the software that is available
can’t take advantage of the full capabilities of the CPU, but it may
be able to in the future.
Introduction to the CPU.

13. Page 13
Introduction to the CPU.
CPU performance is usually based on the frequency speed, the number of
cores present, and the type and size of the cache memory. Hyperthreading
is the logical division of the core to make it act and look like more.
Virtualization support in the CPU has simplified the virtualization process. A
CPU may be either 32-bit or 64-bit. Cooling is very important to the CPU.
Topic
CPU basics.
Summary
Intel tends to use an LGA style of socket while AMD tends to use a PGA
type of socket. The CPUs of both manufacturers are known by the
processor family and the socket type that they use.
Intel and AMD CPUs.
Research is the key in determining which CPU is the right CPU for the
application. Modern CPUs are more powerful than most software
applications, but that does change rapidly.
Which one is right for you?

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THANK YOU!

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