CHAPTER 4
SUPPORTING PROCESSORS AND UPGRADING MEMORY
COMPILED BY EM MAGAKWE
AFTER COMPLETING THIS CHAPTER, YOU WILL BE
ABLE TO:
• Compare characteristics and purposes of Intel and AMD processors
used for personal computers
• Install and upgrade a processor
• Compare the different kinds of physical memory and how they work
• Upgrade memory
INTRODUCTION
• I this chapter you learn about the two most important components on
the motherboard
• Processor
• Memory
• You will learn how a processor works, different types and brands, and
how to match a processor to a motherboard.
• The processor and Memory are FRUs
TYPES AND CHARECTERISTICS OF PROCESSORS
• A processor installed on a motherboard determines the computing power of the system
• Nine features that affect performance and compatibility of a process with a motherboard:
1. Processor speed
2. Socket and chipset the processor can use
3. Processor architecture
4. Multiprocessing abilities
5. Memory cache
6. Security
7. Memory features on the motherboard that the processor can support
8. Support for virtualization
9. Integrated graphics
PROCESSOR SPEED
• Also known as the processor frequency
• Processor frequency is the speed at which the processor operates
internally and is measure in GHz
• Current Intel and AMD processors run at 1.8 GHz up to more than 4.4
GHz
SOCKET AND • Discuss how the processor socket can affect
CHIPSET THE compatibility of the processor with the
PROCESSOR CAN motherboard
USE • Discuss how the chipset the processor can
use can affect the system performance
PROCESSOR ARCHITECTURE
• Whether the processor is a 32 bit, 64 bit or hybrid processor
• All desktop or laptop processors sold today are hybrid processor, which
can process 64 bits or 32 bits at a time
• A hybrid processor can use a 32 bit or 64 bit Operating System (OS)
MULTIPROCESSING ABILITIES
• The ability for a processor to do more than one thing is accomplished
by several means:
• Multiprocessing
• Multithreading
• Multicore processing
MULTIPROCESSING
• Two ALUs (Arithmetic Logic Units) installed within a single processor is
called multiprocessing
• An ALU processes one instruction at a time, if a processor has two ALUs
then it can process two instructions at a time.
• The Pentium was the first processor to contain two ALUs
MULTITHREADING
• It is when a processor or core processes two threads at the same time
• Thread is a task handed to the processor by an OS
• Thread might involve several instruction
• To handle two threads, the processor requires extra registers within the processor housing to switch between
threads
• In effect, you have two logical processors for each processor or core,
• Intel calls it Hyper-Threading
• AMD calls it HyperTransport
• Must be enabled in BIOS/UEFI and the OS must support the technology
MULTICORE
PROCESSING
• When multiples
processors are installed
in the same processor
housing.
• A processor package
might contain up to 8
cores, you can also
have quad, triple, and
dual core processors
MEMORY CACHE
• Memory cache is the amount of memory included within the processor package.
• Today’s processor all have memory on the processor chip (called a die)
• Memory on the processor die is called L1 cache
• Memory in the processor package but not on the die is called L2 cache
• L3 cache is still in the processor housing but further from the processor core
• Cache memory is static RAM (SRAM) unlike the memory used on the motherboard called volatile
memory or Dynamic RAM (DRAM) which loses data rapidly and must be refreshed often
• SRAM is faster than DRAM because it does not need refreshing, ca hold data as long as there is
power
SECURITY
• Executable Disable Bit (EDB) by CompTIA
• AKA eXecute Disable (XD) by Intel
• And Enhanced Virus Protection by AMD
• EDB is security built into the processor, works with the OS to designate memory for
holding data or instructions.
• When an area is designated for data, instructions stored in this area will not be executed,
thus preventing a buffer overflow attack by malicious software which attempts to run its
code from an area in memory assigned for another program for its data.
• EDB requires compatible OS and must be enabled in BIOS/UEFI
• EDM can only stop malware from executing but cannot remove it
MEMORY FEATURES ON THE MOTHERBOARD THAT THE
PROCESSOR CAN SUPPORT
• DRAM modules that can be use don the motherboard include DDR,
DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4
• Besides the type of memory , a processor can support a certain amount
of memory, memory speeds, and number of memory channels – All
these are discussed later in the chapter
SUPPORT FOR VIRTUALIZATION
• A computer can use software to create and manage multiple virtual
machines and their virtual devices
• Most processors sold today support virtualization
• Virtualization must be enabled in BIOS/UEFI
INTEGRATED GRAPHICS
• A processor might include a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)
• GPU – processor that manipulates graphics data to perform images on a monitor screen
• GPU of a system might be on a video card, on the motherboard on embedded in the CPU
package
• When GPU is in the CPU, it is called an Integrated graphics
• When GPU is on a video card, it is called dedicated graphics
• Discuss nine (9) key features of a HOMEWORK 1
processor that influence the performance
of a computer system or its compatibility
with the motherboard. For each feature,
explain how it impacts system performance
or its compatibility with the motherboard.
HOW A PROCESSOR WORKS
HOW A PROCESSOR WORKS
• I/O Unit
• Manages data and instructions leaving and entering the processor
• Control Unit
• Manages all activities inside the processor
• ALUs
• Do all the logical comparisons, mathematical computations, and
calculations inside the processor
• All processors sold today contain two ALUs in each processor core
HOW A PROCESSOR WORKS CONT.
• Registers
• Small holding areas on the processor chip, work like Ram does outside the
CPU, holds counters, data and instructions, and addresses the ALU is
currently processing
• Caches
• L1, L2, L3, or L4 caches hold data and instructions waiting to be processed
by the ALU
• Buses
• Connect components within the processor housing
• Run at a much higher frequency than motherboard buses
HOW A PROCESSOR WORKS
• The processor operates at 4 times the
FSB
• If the FSB operates at 800MHz then the
CPU operates at 3.2 GHz
• This factor is called the multiplier which
you can change in the BIOS/UEFI setting
to overclock or throttle your processor
• Each core in a processor has its own
cache and an internal memory
controller, all core might share L3 cache
INTEL PROCESSORS
• Intel’s current families of desktop processors include:
• Atom
• Celeron
• Pentium
• Intel also groups its processors into generations like Sixth, Fifth, Fourth, Third, Second
and previous generations
• Each generations improves on how the processor and chipset are integrated into the
system
INTEL
PROCESSOR
S
INTEL
PROCESSOR
S
INTEL
PROCESSOR
S
AMD (ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES)
PROCESSORS
AMD (ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES)
PROCESSORS
SELECTING AND INSTALLING A PROCESSOR
• First step is to find all processors that the motherboard is designed to
support
• Among those processors, select one that fits the user’s needs
• Sometimes you will have to sacrifice performance for cost
• Explain how a processor works, including all HOMEWORK 2
major components located inside the
processor housing.
MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES
• RAM – holds data and instructions as the CPU processes them
• Memory on the motherboard is made of Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
• Dynamic RAM loses data rapidly and the memory controller must refresh it several
thousand times a second
• RAM is stored on memory modules, which are installed on memory module slots on
the motherboard
VARIATIONS OF DRAM
• Major categories of memory modules
• DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module)
• SO-DIMM (Small Outline DIMM)
• RIMM (Rambus Inline Memory Module)
• SIMM (Single Inline Memory Module)
• Major differences among these modules are:
• Width of data paths
• How data moves from the system bus to the module
VARIATIONS OF DRAM
TIMELINE OF MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES
DIMM TECHNOLOGIES
• DIMMs use a 64 bit data path (early DIMMs used 128 bit but are now
obsolete)
• DIMMs have independent pins on opposite sides of the module
• Early DIMMs did not run in sync with the system clock, they were too
slow to keep up
• Their speed is measured in nano seconds (ns)
SDRAM
• The first DIMM to run in sync with the system clock was the SDRAM
(Synchronous Dynamic RAM)
• Has two notches
• Uses 168 pins
• Speed is measured in MHz like processor speeds and bus speeds
DDR
• DDR SDRAM AKA SDRAM II AKA DDR
• Instead of processing data for each beat of the cycle, it processes data twice
for each beat, when the beat rises and when the beat falls.
• Improved version of SDRAM
• Runs twice as fast as a regular SDRAM
• If a motherboard runs at 200 MHz it will run at 400MHz
• Has one notch
• Uses 184 pins
DDR2, DDR3, DDR4
• DDR2 and DDR3
• Use 240 pins
• DDR4
• Uses 288 pins
• They are designed to use less power than the previous design and work
faster.
• Discuss the various memory technologies, HOMEWORK 3
covering aspects such as form factor,
synchronous operation, double data rate
(DDR), and other relevant features. Include
explanations of different memory types,
their applications, and how they contribute
to system performance.
FACTORS AFFECTING CAPACITY AND PERFORMANCE OF
DIMMs
• Number of channels
• How much RAM is on one DIMM
• DIMM Speed
• Error checking abilities
• Buffering
NUMBER OF CHANNELS
• Channels have to do with how many DIMM slots the memory controller can address at the same
time
• If the memory controller can address two slots at the same time it is called dual channel and it double
the speed of memory access compared to a single channel (used by early DIMMs)
• DDR, DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4 can all use dual channels.
• DDR3 can use triple channels
• DDR3 and DDR4 can use quad channels
• For dual, triple and quad channels to work the motherboard and the DIMMs must support the
technology
NUMBER OF CHANNELS CONT.
• The picture shows how dual
channeling works on a board
with four DIMM slots.
• The slots will be colour
coded to indicate channels
NUMBER OF CHANNELS CONT.
• When setting up dual
channeling
• DIMMs in a channel must be
equally matched in size,
speed and features, and it is
recommended they come
from the same
manufacturer
HOW MUCH RAM IS ON ONE DIMM
• Single-sided and double-sided DIMMs
• A DIMM can have memory chips installed on one side of the module called single-
sided DIMM or on both sides of the DIMM called double-sided
• A memory bank – the memory a processor can access at one time on a RAM
• Memory slots have a 64-bit memory bank
• Some double-sided DIMMs have more than one memory bank called dual ranked DIMMs
• Do not perform as well as single memory bank DIMMs
DIMM SPEED
• Measured in MHz or PC rating
• 800 MHz = frequency = number of cycle per second
• Or (800x8) PC6400 = total bandwidth in MB/second
• DDR2 PC rating is labelled PC2, DDR3 = PC3, DDR4 = PC4
• RAM speed impacts how quickly your computer can access and use
data stored in it.
ERROR CHECKING ABILITIES
• ECC (Error-Correcting Code) is used in DIMMs, to increase reliability of the DIMM
• ECC compares bits written to the module to what is later read from the module and can
detect and correct an error in a single bit of the byte.
• ECC Modules have an extra chip which is the ECC, unlike normally even numbered chips
• Path of a module is typically 64 bits but it is 72 bits for an ECC module, extra 8 bits are
used for error checking and correction
BUFFERING
• Some DIMMs use buffers or registers or neither
• Using buffers is an older technology
• The buffer temporarily stores data before it is transmitted to the memory
• The register helps synchronize the data flow between the memory controller
and the DRAM chips
CAS and RAS LATENCY
• Memory features to refer to the number of cycles it takes to write or
read a column or row of data
• CAS – Column Access Strobe
• Used more
• RAS – Row Access Stroe
TYPES OF MEMORY USED IN LAPTOPS
TODAYS LAPTOPS USE DDR4, DDR3L, DDR3, DDR2 SO-DIMM
• Discuss factors affecting capacity and HOMEWORK 4
performance of DIMMs .
THE END!
