Alternatively, you can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager and then click on the Performance tab (detailed view, second tab from the left). Here you can see the name of your processor, the number of cores and also a graph that provides real-time information about the CPU utilization. Here you will also find detailed information about the base clock frequency, cores and the logical processors – better known as “threads”. CPUs with higher thread counts are typically better for multitasking because they are able to handle more processes at the same time.
In most cases, the number of cores only provides an indication of CPU performance. The processor frequency (or clock frequency), multithreading, microarchitecture, type of processor (desktop or mobile) and software optimization also play a role. If you feel the need for a deep dive at this point, you should look up your processor’s specifications on the Intel or AMD website.
In general, the newer the processor, the more efficient and powerful it is, but not all generations make big leaps in performance compared to the previous ones. Current benchmarking tests provide clarity about the differences between generations.
CPU manufacturers – the ‘who’s who’
The currently most important, or best known, manufacturers of processors are AMD and Intel. This is primarily because these two companies are the largest manufacturers of x86 CPUs, which are primarily used in notebooks and desktop PCs. Other important processor manufacturers include:
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Apple
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Fujitsu
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Hitachi
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IBM
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Infineon
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Oracle
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Qualcomm
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NXP
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Nvidia
However, apart from AMD and Intel, only a few manufacturers are now able to develop their own chips, for example IBM for its mainframes or Oracle with the Sparc CPUs taken over from Sun Microsystems. Particularly in the smartphone or industrial environment, chip manufacturers such as Qualcomm or Infineon rely on CPU designs from the British provider ARM, which does not manufacture processors itself. ARM chips are characterized by their compact design and good energy efficiency, which is a crucial factor, especially for mobile devices.
Especially in the 1970s and 1980s, many other companies significantly shaped the CPU image – for example:
