CPUS, FORM FACTOR AND SOCKETS

FORM FACTOR

Form Factor is the physical size and shape of a device.

In motherboards it pertains to the size and shape of the board and also describes the physical layout of different components and devices on the motherboard.

With system cases, it describes certain specific features and what kind of motherboard fits inside.

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE COMMON FORM FACTORS FOR

MOTHERBOARDS:

ATX (Advanced Technology Extended): 12” x 9.6” (305mm x 244mm)

Micro ATX (mATX): 9.6” x 9.6” (244mm x 244mm)

FlexATX: 9.0” x 7.5” (229mm x 191mm)

Mini ITX: 6.7” x 6.7” (170mm x 170mm)

SOCKETS

Sockets are where the CPU or processor is placed.

As microprocessors advance, they also need more and more pins

Pin Grid Array (PGA)

CPU SOCKET EXAMPLE

Socket 939 Athlon 64

The number in the names represents the number of pins present on the backside of the CPU that connect to the motherboard’s socket.

LGA (Land Grid Array)

LGA is different from PGA in that the pins are actually part of the socket, not the CPU.

Example: LGA 775

CPU PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY

Hyper-threading (officially Hyper-Threading Technology, and abbreviated HT Technology, HTT or HT) is Intel's term for its simultaneous multithreading implementation in their Xeon, Pentium 4, Atom, and Core i7 CPUs. Hyper-threading is an Intel-proprietary technology used to improve parallelization of computations (doing multiple tasks at once) performed on PC microprocessors. (www.wikipedia.org)

Hyper Threading (HT) ensures that the system resources are used most efficiently and a specific process is completed in a lesser amount of time.

Dual Core Technology combines two independent processors and their respective caches and cache controllers onto a single silicon chip.

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

What is a CPU Form Factor?

Describe the different kinds of sockets.

Expound how threading works.

What is dual core technology?

If you will be asked what will be the probable design of the microprocessor chip after the year 2008, what would it be like? Explain.