Have you ever wondered what CPU is inside your computer? If so, and if you’re still pondering that question, perhaps you’ve just been too lazy or busy to open it up and find out. Or, even if the spirit and flesh are willing, you have difficulty tracking down a screwdriver that would help you end the mystery.
Well ponder no more, because there’s an easy way to find out what processor your computer has without getting up. We’ll show you how to find out.
Related: How to see what kind of graphics card your computer has
How to see what kind of processor your computer has without getting up
First, download and install CPU-Z, which is a free program. You can get it here. Once CPU-Z is installed, open the program. It may take a few seconds to load up.
Once CPU-Z is open, the CPU tab should be opened automatically. CPU-Z’s CPU tab will give you the information you’re looking for, and then some. It will tell you which company made your computer’s CPU (Intel here), the series (Core i7), the model (4770K), how fast the processor runs, your motherboard’s socket, and much more.
Anytime you want to find out what kind of processor your computer has, all you need to do is repeat these steps. Also, you never have to worry about CPU-Z slowing your computer down. As you can see below, CPU-Z consumes minimal system resources, and much fewer than what other common Windows programs eat up.
Related: AMD will celebrate its history with new hardware announcements August 23
A central processing unit, or CPU, is arguably the most important component of any computing device. It handles basic instructions and allocates the more complicated tasks to other specific chips to get them to do what they do best. It’s the core of your PC, smartphone, or tablet. and it’s what makes the whole device run as it should.
The CPU itself is a core component of what makes a computer a computer, but it isn’t the computer itself — it’s just the brains of the operation. It’s a small computer chip that sits atop the main circuit board (motherboard or mainboard) of a computer, whether that’s a desktop PC, laptop, or tablet. It’s distinctly separate from the memory, which is where information is stored, and the graphics card or graphics chip, which handles all rendering of video and 3D graphics to your monitor or screen. For a deepr dive, check out our answer to the question, what is a CPU?
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