Expand Your Expertise About Quad-Core Socket S1 Computer Processors
Whether you want to build your own PC or just upgrade an existing one, a quad-core socket S1 processor can significantly increase speed and performance over those of dual-core processors. While upgrading to a quad-core processor can increase speed and performance, it's important to know you are purchasing a product that will be compatible with all the other electronics in your device. The processor is just one part of an integrated system, so it has to fit in with the rest of them.
What is an S1 socket?The socket is the type of connector that connects the CPU to the motherboard. If you are planning on upgrading to a quad-core processor, you need to select one that is compatible with your motherboard. There are two pieces of information you need in order to determine if an S1 Socket quad-core CPU is compatible with your motherboard: the socket type and the maximum external clock rate. Once you check that those two specs are compatible, you will also want to do a full BIOS (basic input/output system) upgrade, so your motherboard will recognize your new CPU. Once the CPU has been installed, you will also want to run a program to make sure it is actually running at the correct clock rate. Otherwise, you are simply wasting the potential performance power of the upgrade.
What is the purpose of multiple cores?Cores are what allow a CPU to separate tasks to provide more processing power to one task and less to another. In the age of Windows, most people multitask on their computers, sometimes even without knowing it. If you have an auto-update feature on your computer, it may automatically download and update certain software right when you are trying to stream a movie or edit a photo, without you even knowing it is happening.
Even if all you are doing is editing a document — one of the least demanding processing tasks — a single-core processor cannot separate the processing power necessary for downloading a software update from the power necessary for editing. If a software update suddenly starts downloading, you may notice words and letters appearing very slowly when you type, without knowing why your computer is suddenly so slow. Multicore processors, however, can allocate more power to one core for a more demanding task and less to another core performing a less demanding task.
Here are some of the more demanding computing tasks that a quad-core processor can accommodate:
- Streaming HD movies.
- Video editing.
- Gaming.
The important thing to keep in mind about quad-core processing chips is that they make up one part of an entire system that operates your computer. Your processor needs not only to fit with the motherboard but also to be fast enough to support the type of RAM installed on your computer or mobile device. If your processor is significantly faster than your RAM, you may be wasting potential performance. The Socket S1 can support up to DDR2 SDRAM. In many cases, when people upgrade to a processor with more cores, they will upgrade their RAM as well to take full advantage of the additional speed and performance available.