- Cores and threads<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Types of processors<\/strong><\/a>
- What is an ARM processor?<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- How to check what processor you have<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
What does a processor do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Processors are essentially the brains of your\ncomputer. At its core, it processes all of the calculations and functions that\nit\u2019s told to do. For example, when you move your mouse or press a key, those\nactions are sent to the processor. The processor receives that action command (also\nreferred to as an instruction), then decodes it. Once decoded, it will then\ncarry out that function. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Restaurant analogy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
All of this may sound a bit technical, so let\u2019s\nuse a restaurant analogy to learn how everything works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Customer:<\/strong> You<\/li>
- Recipe:<\/strong> The software\/operation (e.g., opening a folder, loading a song)<\/li>
- Ingredients:<\/strong> Data<\/li>
- Chef:<\/strong> Processor<\/li>
- Core:<\/strong> The faster the chef (and the number of chefs), the quicker the meal will be completed<\/li>
- Countertop:<\/strong> RAM \u2014 the bigger the countertop, the more you can prep quickly and efficiently<\/li>
- Refrigerator:<\/strong> Storage \u2014 the more disorganized the fridge, the harder it is to find the ingredients<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
- You, the customer, place an order for a specific meal. <\/li>
- The ticket is delivered to the kitchen for it to be cooked. <\/li>
- The chef grabs the ingredients from the refrigerator, places them on the countertop, then begins cooking the meal.
- Remember, if the countertop is too small and you have too many chefs or ingredients, the more crowded and stressed it will be.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Once prepped, the meal is cooked, then served. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2021\/08\/How-a-computer-processor-works-1024x248.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow a computer processor works<\/em>. Click to enlarge.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cores and threads<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cores and threads are terms you typically see\non a PC processor\u2019s specification page. Both of these have a significant impact\non your computer\u2019s performance. A core is a physical component that makes up\nthe processor as a whole. For example, with a quad-core processor, the entire\nprocessor is made up of four cores. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A thread is the \u201csoftware\u201d component, and it\u2019s a series of tasks your computer needs to execute to complete the action. One<\/strong> core can process two<\/strong> threads. So, if you have a six-core, 12-thread processor, that means six cores will be able to perform 12 tasks at once. Knowing all of this, you can see that a processor with a higher core and thread count means that this, along with amount of RAM, equates to faster performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Number](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2021\/08\/Number-of-cores-listed-in-CPUID-HW-Monitor.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nViewing your processor\u2019s cores in computer monitoring software<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Types of PC processors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The age-old question among Windows PC users is, \u201cWhat\u2019s\nthe difference between Intel and AMD?\u201d The answer is that the pinouts are\nentirely different between Intel and AMD processors and motherboards. It\u2019s all\nabout personal preference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many manufacturers recommend Intel processors to\nrun their software. For example, Steinberg\u2019s Cubase DAW has a minimum Intel\nCore i series or AMD Ryzen multi-core requirement. However, their recommended\nprocessor is an Intel i5 or higher. And while manufacturers don\u2019t typically\nofficially announce AMD compatibility, they always work to make sure their\nhardware and drivers work on all systems \u2014 both Intel and AMD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is an ARM processor?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Besides the processors you see in desktop PCs, you may also hear about ARM processors. ARM processors are most commonly found in many Android<\/a> and iOS<\/a> devices, as well as in \u201cmicrocomputers\u201d like a Raspberry Pi. Unlike their desktop counterparts, however, ARM processors rely heavily on the software rather than the hardware. That is, until 2020. While Windows-based PCs still use the x86 Intel and AMD architecture, Apple has created the pre-installed M1 chip, which is ARM-based. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>What do processors mean for Windows 11?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Now that you know how processors work and their differences, we\u2019ll discuss what it means for your current PC. Microsoft has changed its minimum AMD and Intel processor requirements for Windows 11. This means that if you don\u2019t have a compatible processor, then your PC can\u2019t run the new OS. Microsoft is still testing many processors, but currently, your PC must have at least an eighth-generation Intel or second-generation AMD Ryzen. For more details, check out Microsoft\u2019s page for a detailed list of confirmed compatible AMD and Intel processors for Windows 11<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For detailed information on Intel and AMD integration with Windows 11, check out their respective websites:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Windows 11 and AMD Processors<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
- Intel Core Processors and Intel Bridge Technology Unleash Windows 11 Experience<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
How to check what processor you have<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you aren\u2019t sure what processor you have,\nyou can check by going to About This PC<\/strong>. There are a few ways to\ncheck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Right-click the Windows <\/strong>icon on the taskbar, then select System<\/strong>. <\/li>
- Press the Windows <\/strong>key on your keyboard, then type and click About your PC<\/strong>.<\/li>
- Your processor, as well as other system information, will be listed under the Device Specifications<\/em> section of the window.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
64-bit processors only<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Windows 11 will only be released for 64-bit\nsystems, so computers with a 32-bit processor will not be able to upgrade.\nHowever, 32-bit programs can still be used in the 64-bit environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Press the Windows <\/strong>key on your keyboard, then type and click About your PC<\/strong>.<\/li>
- Intel Core Processors and Intel Bridge Technology Unleash Windows 11 Experience<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
- Windows 11 and AMD Processors<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
- Recipe:<\/strong> The software\/operation (e.g., opening a folder, loading a song)<\/li>
- How to check what processor you have<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Types of processors<\/strong><\/a>
![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2021\/08\/Windows-11-processor-compatibility-list.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n