📖 IT Bible

CPU Sockets and Features

(OBJ 3.5)

CPU Socket Types:

  • Intel
  • AMD

Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) - allows us to install CPU without pressing down

  • Intel tend to use a LGA (Land Grid Array) socket, where pins are on motherboard and line up with holes on the CPU when placed
  • AMD uses PGA (Pin Grid Array) socket, where pins are on CPU and holes on motherboard when placed

The number of physical processors limits processing capacity on a system. The processor directs traffic to different cores to increase speed at which tasks can be executed.

CPU Features

SMT (Simultaneous Multithreading [AMD]) or Hyper-Threading (Intel)

  • Threading refers to a single stream of instructions sent by a software application to a processor; software does everything in a serial or linear manner
  • Multithreading refers to the ability of an application to execute multiple instructions at the same time; allows a number of threads to be run through a processor reducing time it takes to complete the task
  • Used by most

SMP (Symmetric Multiprocessing)

  • Traditional workstations and servers have multiple processors; motherboard has to have 2 or 4 CPU slots and 2 or 4 CPUs installed, and all CPUs have to be same type and speed to work together, and underlying OS needs to understand how to use more than one processor at the same time (was not very useful in laptops and desktops)

Multi-core Processors - a single CPU with multiple processors inside; as new instructions come in, the multi-core processor takes it to an individual sub processor

  • Dual-core processor = 2 CPUs inside a single chip
  • Quad processor = 4 CPUs inside a single chip
  • Hexa processor = 6 cores inside a single chip
  • Octa processor = 8 cores in a single chip

Virtualization - the ability to have a computer “pretend” that it is running multiple other computers inside of itself

  • VT (Intel)
  • AMD-V (AMD)
  • Both provide processor extensions to support virtualization
  • EPT (Extended Page Table) [Intel]
  • RVI (Rapid Virtualization Indexing) [AMD]
  • Both EPT and RVI are considered to be second level address translation

When building a machine for virtualization, ensure that the processors have VT or AMD-V

CPU Architecture

CPU Architecture - defines what capabilities that processor has

  • x86 (IA-32) or Intel Architecture
    • Developed by Intel with an 8-bit, 16-bit and up to 32-bit instruction set
    • Originally developed for first PCs in 70s and 80s
    • Can only support max of 4GB of RAM because there’s only 32 bits available for addressing
  • x64 - supports 64-bit instruction set
    • Higher memory support
    • Can support both 64-bit and 32-bit systems; backwards compatible
  • ARM Processor (Advanced RISC [Reduced Instruction Set Computer] Machine)
    • Used for low-power devices ex. tablets and cellphones
    • Much smaller instruction set
    • Use code to do tasks
    • Produces a lot less heat than x86 and x64 processors
    • Devices that are NOT Windows based tend to use ARM-based processors instead of x64 or x86