What does computer processors do?

Question

I don't understand what computer processors actualy do. I've got a pentium 4 processor, so what differences would it make if I'd get a core 2 duo or something?

Answer 1

The processor is the "brain" in the computer. The Pentium has is a single core processor, and the duo core has 2 processors packed into one silicon chip.

Really high end computers (like business main frames) have symmetrical processors. By that they put multiple single core processors in a system for load sharing and redundancy. With multiple processors the system can one processor for task-A and another for task-B and so on. With a single processor the system has to either run a task to completion before it starts a new one or but one on hold etc.. dual core processors, in theory could handle multiple tasks running simultaneously better. You also need an operating system that can make use of multiple processors. Windows Vista is designed to take advantage of dual core processors, I'm not sure if XP can?

Answer 2

The processor is the "mind" of a computer, meaning it does all the operation required by other components through the motherboard. The main ingredient of a processor is it's kernel (or core). Besides the kernel modern processors have L1,L2 and even L3 cached memory for improving it's speed.
Nowadays it has come to the conclusion that a single kernel isn't enough so now we have processors with 2 kernels, 4 kernels and who knows what the future will bring. Each kernel will process data independently so even if it's one processor it will run twice as fast (at least in theory). I say this because it also depends on how good the drvers are made for it.

Answer 3

The speed of the processor is determined by how fast the computer can fetch, decode, & execue somehing using the binary system

Answer 4

it determins the speed of the computer, it let everything run fast.

Answer 5

Two things: They can add and they can compare. That's all they are capable of.