Why does processor speed no longer seem to matter?

Question

In the past, all the computer ads, in the flyers that accompany various newspapers, invariably highlighted, for each computer that was offered for sale, 1)processor speed, 2)memory size and 3)disc capacity. Lately, the ads don't mention processor speed. Why not?

Answer 1

Because processor technology has evolved to a point that mere MHz and GHz are not valid measures of speed.

For example, some processors have dual cores - this is like having TWO processors instead of one. Some have HyperThreading which makes it seem like there are two processors but what is happening is the calculations that are done using integers are done at the same time as those that use floating point (they are different types of math and it used to be you had to wait for one to complete before another could start), Some have HyperTransport which effectively doubles or faster the throughput to the RAM which can increase overall performance, Some have larger cache memory which is a lot faster than RAM and so larger caches allow more frequently used "results" to be stored for quick reference and in turn, this makes things run faster, Some have more than one of these. ALL affect overall ability of the processor.

Answer 2

Processor speed probably not as important as it used to be few years back.

Now multicore processor processors are available, which is essentially similar to having multiple processors in one unit. This helps make multi threading faster.

The difference in processor speed will be noticeable only while executing a really CPU intensive process/application like rendering 3D images etc.

I/O is always slower than processor, so if an application is accessing hard disk frequently, then even if processor speed is high, HDD access is going to slow down the program. Solution to this problem is to use a faster HDD like SATA or SCSI.

Programs use virtual memory once it runs out of RAM, which again is slow as virtual memory is on HDD. So it is good have a good amount of RAM, and it certainly does make your system faster.

Hope this helps..

Answer 3

Explaination using analogy:

Think of your computer as a highway system. The processor pushes cars on to the highway, the amount of RAM you have, determines typically how fast your processor can put them on to the highway, your FSB (Front Side Bus) is the highway road itself, the more lanes it has (the faster its speed) the faster information gets through. We're in kind of a dry zone. For years we focused on RAM and processor productivity increase and ignored a lot about the FSB. They're trying to catch up, and it's especially apparent in the lull between processors. You'll see a lot more about processors in the early parts of next year when Intel and AMD come out with their Quad processors, and a few years down the line with the nanoprocessor comes online build around the carbon molecule.

Answer 4

Processor speeds have plateaued at about 3 GHz, it does not seem economically feasible to make processors faster than that. Manufacturers are concentrating on pipelining and fast FSB to get the most out of their processors.

Answer 5

A lot of companies are making processors faster by default. Perhaps it was just a unique commercial because I usually see and hear it on TV and in the newspaper.

Answer 6

AMD are extra regularly than no extra low priced, even with the indisputable fact that i'd could say that Intel is ideal. yet pondering yours is a quad middle vs a twin middle, i'd fairly regularly bypass which includes the AMD. I7 quad middle is the perfect even with if.