The Processor or CPU (Central processing unit) is commonly referred to as the "brains" of the computer, even though this is only partially true since a real brain performs many functions including thinking (processing), issuing commands and storing information (short and long term memory) .

On a computer, the "short term memory" is stored in RAM or Random access memory and the "long term memory" is stored on the Hard disk drive.

The job of the CPU is to retrieve data from memory, to process this information and then to issue commands to the system based on this information, the CPU is the computer's top manager (the boss).

Speed  (clock speed) is crucial to performance, since the faster the boss is able to issue the commands, the faster the system performs. Speed is measured in Hertz, or cycles per second. Today's processors operates at thousands of millions (1, 000, 000, 000) of cycles per second (Giga Hertz or just GHz).

Performance and speed

The performance of a processor is no longer based on CPU speed alone, other factors impact on performance; it is essential to look at performance charts rather than looking at CPU speeds before making a decision.

Dual core and quad core

A dual core processor has two physical processor cores in a single chip, and theoretically should deliver twice the performance of a single core CPU when running multi-threaded applications.

Quad core processors have four processors in a single chip. Performance, in theory, should be twice that of a dual core.

Gaming (at the moment) - games are not multi-threading - they do not use 4 cores, they mainly use a single core, and sometimes they use two cores. If you are a gamer, it is recommended keeping up with the latest information from other Internet users, and to buy accordingly.

Cache (pronounced cash) also impacts on performance, this is the amount of information a CPU is capable of "remembering" before it has to get the information again (lets call it very short term memory that will be forgotten eventually as the boss gets more work to do - it is something the boss knows at that specific time). The more cache a CPU has, the better it performs.

• Processors: Intel CPU
• Intel LGA1151 8th gen Processors
• Intel LGA1151 9th gen Processors (2 products)
• Intel LGA1200 10/11th gen Processors (41 products)
• Intel LGA1700 12th/13th gen Processors
• Intel Celeron Socket LGA 1700 Processor (3 products)
• Intel i3 Socket LGA 1700 Processor (18 products)
• Intel i5 Socket LGA 1700 Processor (30 products)
• Intel i7 Socket LGA 1700 Processor (23 products)
• Intel i9 Socket LGA 1700 Processor (21 products)
• Intel Pentium Socket LGA 1700 Processor (5 products)
• Intel Ultra 5 Socket LGA 1851 Processor (5 products)
• Intel Ultra 7 Socket LGA 1851 Processor (5 products)
• Intel Ultra 9 Socket LGA 1851 Processor (2 products)
• Intel Xeon Server Processors (54 products)
• Old Intel processors
• Intel Celeron Processors
• Intel Core 2 Duo processors
• Intel Core 2 Duo Socket 775 Processors [800MHz] (1 product)
• Intel Core 2 Quad processors
• Intel i7 LGA2011 Processors
• Intel LGA1150 7th gen Processors
• Intel LGA1151 Processors
• Intel LGA1155 Processors
• Intel LGA1156 Processors
• Intel LGA2066 Processors R4
• Intel Mobile Processors
• Intel Pentium 600 Series Socket 775 2MB Cache
• Intel Pentium 800 Series Dual Core Socket 775 1MB Cache
• Intel Pentium processor
• Processors Cooling