The Different Types of CPUs and How to Choose the Right One

CPU (Central Processing Unit) can be called the brain of a computer system. Without a CPU, your computer will have a body, but won’t be able to do anything else. Because it has all the components silly! As they serve as the most important part of any PC buildup, you have to be aware of the different units that are inside the CPU. The motherboard, RAM, processor, and hard disk are all connected together to give you the desired output. And what you are intending to do with it makes the CPU more powerful or less.

The most important part of building a CPU from scratch to your liking depends on what you are willing to achieve with it. If you are going to do gaming, or video and graphics editing, the build will be different than a regular movie-watching and regular computer. The more you feed it, the better it will perform. And the components should match with each other to create the much needed harmony to perform. 

If you are confused about this topic, a great resource for checking the compatibility of a PC builder website can help you with it. You can input your current PC components to look if they are in the right order or can also look up the best components that you want to have. Saving you a lot of time and effort. 

Now let’s talk CPU, shall we?

Types of CPUs You Should Know About

There are mainly five types of CPUs out there. No matter how big or small the build is, they fall into one of these categories. We will describe more about them in the article to give you the perfect idea about them thoroughly. 

Single-Core CPUs

Starting with the very basic, the single-core CPU. This entry-level computer and device can only execute one instruction at a time. Basic tasks like web surfing, writing and editing documents, and watching and listening to music can be done with ease. But tasks like gaming, video, and graphics editing are a failure for them. 

Example: Intel Celeron CPUs.

Dual-Core CPUs

As the name suggests, dual-core CPUs have two cores to execute two instructions at the same time. It’s even faster than single-core CPUs. And you can not only do web surfing, document editing, and listening to music, but also do a bit of gaming, video editing, and 3D modeling. But it should be done in an optimized manner, in a lighter software version. 

Example: Intel i3 processors are dual-core CPUs. 

Quad-Core CPUs

4 core, as its Latin name suggests, Quad-core CPUs are responsible for taking up four instructions at once. As it can execute more tasks and commands, gaming, video editing, 3D designs and graphics can be done with ease. Multiple applications running in the background can also be done for intense operation. 

Example: Intel i7 7700, AMD Phenom X4.

Hexa-Core CPUs

Made particularly for running more applications in the background, the Hexa core CPUs are a gamer’s dream. It is particularly made to withstand multitasking like gaming and streaming at the same time. As streaming and playing high graphics video games require a lot of applications run in the background, you can easily use this CPU for high-resolution video and graphics editing, GFX modeling, scientific research and simulators,  and more. 

Example: Intel i7, AMD Phenom II X6.

Octa-Core CPUs

And the last one on the list is the Octa-core CPU. As you know by now, it consists of 8 cores and can perform eight tasks or commands at the same time. Some think of it as a gimmick but it does work. From streaming, gaming, and other hard scientific tasks, the octa-core CPUs are a charm to work with. Machine learning, database servers, and other high-end processing can be done with this type of processor. 

Example: Intel Xeon W, i7 9800W, AMD Ryzen 7.

Factors to Consider Before You Choose a CPU

There are several factors to look into before you choose the right CPU for you. As there are different kinds of power, size, and processing unit, the price also gets higher or lower. And the right one for your specific task will be determined from the points mentioned below. 

1. Performance: The main point of getting a CPU is because of its performance. A high-end one will perform any task efficiently. So if you are going to do video editing, graphics design, gaming, and other high-end stuff, aiming for a high-end pc with more than 2 cores would be best. 
2. Power Consumption: As higher-end CPUs will work in a faster and more efficient manner, they will also require a lot of power output. So you are not only investing in the processor, motherboard, and RAM, but also a bigger power supply. And lesser power means less power. Don’t opt for the wrong power output or PSU when you are choosing a CPU. 
3. Compatibility: The motherboard, RAM, processor, PSU, SSD, PCI, and other components should match each other. They differ from different brands and setups. Ports, capacity, and other parts might mismatch if you get the wrong parts. So be aware of checking them out beforehand and then ordering.
4. Price: The better you pay, the better you get, as they say. The same thing goes for a CPU. depending on your budget you will have to opt for the right one. Or save up a little more to get your dream CPU.

Comparing CPUs: Like a Pro!

Here are the key components you should check out before you go for a CPU.

Clock Speed: Customization Is Always Better

Clock speed is one of the most important elements of your CPU. It signifies how fast your processor will work and finish a task. Higher clock speed or overclocking options are always the ones to go for. It is measured in GHz and you will see it right beside the processor info. 

But it all comes down to one thing, all the other components should match together to create a perfectly functioning CPU. The number of cores, cache size, and power consumption also play a vital role in it.

Cores and Threads: How Many Do You Need?

As we have discussed earlier, the cores play a vital role in your processing speed. Any CPU with a lower number of cores will slow its process down. And you won’t be able to do hard tasks like video editing, gaming, and streaming at the same time. 

Regular users who need to do a little video and photo editing, watch movies and do small gaming can go for a 4 core 8-thread CPU. But for pro gamers and video enthusiasts, 6 cores with 12 threads.

Cache Size

Cache size means the way your pc stores the processing elements in the memory. So the bigger it is, the faster it can retrieve the data. 

If you do regular usage, 6MB of cache memory will be enough. And if you are a heavy gamer or a graphics designer, going over 8MB would be the best thing to do. 

Thermal Design Power (TDP)

Who doesn’t like cutting down on electricity bills? If you have a Thermal design power unit, your pc will not consume as much power as it will keep all the components mainly the processor cool.

So opting for a TDP is better than going on to an old-school fan cooler with lower power. Which will cost you less but lay heavy on the bills.

Conclusion

The right CPU varies from each person to another. You cannot categorise them for a bunch and choose from there. The best things to look out for when you are building one is the clock speed, cores, cache size, and TDP. If all of them match, you wont have to look back on upgrades for a while.