CPUs

Chapter 3

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Episode: What Is a CPU?

Core 1: 3.4 Given a scenario, install and configure

Objective(s): motherboards, central processing units (CPUs), and
add-on cards.

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Episode Description

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is quite

possibly the most critical component of a
PC. But what tasks does the CPU deal with,
and how does it go about handling them?
Let’s dig into the core features of a CPU.

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Key Terms

• 0:49 - Central processing unit (CPU)

• 3:01 - on=1, off=0
• 4:18 - Machine language
• 6:10 - Intel 8088 code
• 7:22 - Clock

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Quick Review
• A central processing unit (CPU) runs
programs
• Every CPU has internal features to process
commands
• Every CPU runs code based on a specific
machine language
• CPUs use pipelines (cores) to optimize the
processing of commands

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Episode: Modern CPUs

Core 1: 3.4 Given a scenario, install and configure

Objective(s): motherboards, central processing units (CPUs), and
add-on cards.

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Episode Description

The modern processor is loaded with

features that you need to know in order to
excel as a PC technician. Let’s examine
some of the modern CPU’s abilities and get
hands-on with a tool that has become a
necessity when dealing with central
processing units.

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Key Terms

• 0:35 - Clock speed and cores

• 1:00 - 1 hertz (1 Hz) = 1 cycle per second
• 1:04 - 1 megahertz (1 MHz) = 1 million
cycles per second, 1 gigahertz (1 GHz) = 1
billion cycles per second
• 1:30 - CPU cores are multiple processors
on one chip
• 2:15 - Objective term - Single-core

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Key Terms

• 2:42 - Objective term - Multi-core

• 3:10 - Quad-core
• 4:02 - Objective term - Advanced RISC
(Reduced Instruction Set Computing)
Machine (ARM) chip
• 4:46 - Accelerated Processing Unit (APU)
• 5:30 - CPU-Z

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Quick Review
• The capability of a CPU is measured via
clock speed and cores
• Modern CPUs support advanced features
such as multi-cores
• ARM chips operate using a Reduced
Instruction Set Computing (RISC)
methodology
• Accelerated Processing Units (APUs) are
CPUs with graphics cards built in

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Episode: 32-Bit vs. 64-Bit Computing

Core 1: 3.4 Given a scenario, install and configure

Objective(s): motherboards, central processing units (CPUs), and
add-on cards.

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Episode Description

As technology evolves, the industry sets

standards to define milestones. There is
possibly no standard more prolific than 32-
bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) computing. Every
piece of hardware and software released in
the last three decades follows either the
32-bit or 64-bit standard.

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 CPU Instruction Set Architectures

Instruction Set Supports 32-bit Supports 64-bit

Architecture (ISA) applications? applications?
X86 Yes No
X86-64 Yes Yes
x64 No Yes

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Key Terms

• 0:18 - Objective term - x86 and x64

• 2:48 - Objective term - x86
• 2:48 - Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)
• 3:05 - Objective term - x64
• 3:12 - Intel Architecture, 32-bit (IA-32)

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Quick Review
• x86, x86-64, x64, and IA-32 all support
different Instruction Set Architectures
(ISAs)
• Almost all modern hardware and software
supports 64-bit systems and are
backwards compatible with 32-bit systems
• x64 systems offer greater data handling,
improved graphics performance, and better
security

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Episode: Choosing the Right CPU

Core 1: 3.4 Given a scenario, install and configure

Objective(s): motherboards, central processing units (CPUs), and
add-on cards.

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Episode Description
Choosing a CPU that meets all of your needs is
one of the most important decisions that you
will make when building your PC. The wrong
choice can mean a computer that does not
perform the needed tasks or quickly becomes
outdated. Since we have already learned about
CPU features such as multi-cores and clock
speed, let’s discuss choosing the right CPU for
the job at hand.

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Key Terms

• 0:34 - What type of system to you want?

• 1:01 - What's the primary use of the
computer?
• 1:38 - How long do you want this system
to last?
• https://pcpartpicker.com/

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Quick Review
• CPUs designed for laptops come with features
to help with power consumption and battery
usage
• Higher-end CPUs offer more cores and a faster
clock speed
• Intensive tasks such as 3D gaming and video
editing benefit from CPUs with extra cores
• Some CPUs are unlocked and can be
overclocked

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 CPU Generations and
Episode:
Architecture

Core 1: 3.4 Given a scenario, install and configure

Objective(s): motherboards, central processing units (CPUs), and
add-on cards.

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Episode Description

By now you are probably wondering what

that alphabet soup of letters and numbers
alongside a CPU name means.
Understanding the nomenclature of CPU
models will ensure that you fully understand
how they work. In this video, we are going to
learn about the different generations and
their corresponding CPU architecture.

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Key Terms

• 1:23 - Objective term - Intel

• 1:23 - Objective term - Advanced Micro
Devices, Inc. (AMD)
• 3:37 - Objective term - Multithreading

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Intel Generation Timeline

• https://techgamesnews.com/cpus/intel-
processor-generations-timeline-and-
evolution/

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Quick Review
• Intel and AMD are the main brands for CPUs
• The higher a CPU’s tier, the better the
performance
• The generation gives a good indicator of the
CPU’s age
• The model refers to the performance of the
CPU
• The suffix denotes whether the CPU is
unlocked or has integrated graphics

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Episode: CPU Cooling

Core 1: 3.4 Given a scenario, install and configure

Objective(s): motherboards, central processing units (CPUs), and
add-on cards.

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Episode Description

While anything that uses electricity

generates some heat, no other piece of
hardware in our PC generates more heat
than the CPU. Keeping temperatures under
control is one of the keys to a system’s
longevity. Let’s beat the heat and learn all
about CPU cooling.

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Key Terms
• 1:25 - Objective term - Overheating
• 1:30 - Objective term - Intermittent shutdown
• 1:37 - Objective term - Heat sink
• 2:44 - Objective term - Fans
• 3:19 - Objective term - Thermal paste
• 3:26 - Thermal paste comes in silicone-based,
ceramic-based, carbon-based, metal-based and liquid
metal-based
• 9:47- Objective term - Thermal pads
• 10:41 - Objective term - Liquid cooling

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Intel’s Method on How to Apply
Thermal Paste
• https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/e
n/gaming/resources/how-to-apply-
thermal-paste.html

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Thermal
Pads

Source: https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?N=100&d=CPU%20heatsink

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Quick Review
• Heat sinks use metal fins and pipes to
passively transfer heat
• Thermal paste and pads are both used to
fill in gaps and provide better thermal
conductivity between CPU and heat sink
• There are numerous sizes of fans and
radiators to choose from
• Liquid cooling has higher thermal transfer
capabilities than air-cooling

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Installing and Troubleshooting a
Episode:
CPU

Core 1: 3.4 Given a scenario, install and configure

motherboards, central processing units (CPUs), and add-on
Objective(s): cards.
Core 1: 5.1 Given a scenario, apply the best practice
methodology to resolve problems.

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Episode Description

Every computer needs a CPU. The

installation steps are straightforward but
should be handled with care to prevent
damage. Additionally, some form of cooling
is required.

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Key Terms

• 0:21 - Make sure to use electrostatic

discharge (ESD) protection
• 0:26 - Handle sensitive equipment carefully
• 0:54 - Intel CPUs use Land Grid Array (LGA)
• 1:24 - Zero-insertion force (ZIF)
• 2:22 - AMD CPUs use Pin Grid Array (PGA)
• 3:59 - Objective term - Step 1: Identify the
problem

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Key Terms
• 4:25 - Objective term - Step 2: Establish a theory
of probable cause (question the obvious)
• 4:46 - Objective term - Step 3: Test the theory to
determine the cause
• 5:03 - Objective term - If the theory is not
confirmed, re-establish a new theory or escalate
• 5:13 - Objective term - Step 4: Establish a plan of
action to resolve the problem and implement the
solution

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Key Terms

• 5:24 - Objective term - Refer to the

vendor’s instructions for guidance
• 5:41 - Objective term - Step 5: Verify full
system functionality and, if applicable,
implement preventive measures
• 6:11 - Objective term - Step 6: Document
the findings, actions, and outcomes

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson
 Quick Review
• Always use ESD prevention methods when handling
CPUs
• Pin Grid Array (PGA) and Land Grid Array (LGA) are
the two most common types of CPU sockets
• The Zero-insertion force (ZIF) mechanism is used
to secure the CPU into the motherboard’s CPU
socket
• When troubleshooting a non-functional CPU, first
check all connections and make sure the fan, heat
sink, and CPU itself are seated properly before
proceeding

CompTIA A+ (220-110x)
Mike Meyers and Steve Nicholson