Reference Guide

Chipset
The chipset controls the components on the system board and enables communication between various components. Generally,
the chipset is part of the system board. However, with some new generation processors, the chipset may be integrated in the
processor.
Processor
Processors receive data and instructions from applications and process the data as requested by the software. Processors are
designed specifically for desktops, laptops, mobile devices, and so on. Generally, the processor designed for one type of device
cannot be used on another type of device. Processors designed for laptops and mobile devices consume less power compared
to the processors designed for desktops or servers.
Processors are mainly classified based on:
● Number of processing cores
● Speed or frequency measured in GigaHertz (GHz) or MegaHertz (MHz)
● On-board memory, also referred to as cache
These aspects also determine the performance of the processor. Higher values generally mean better performance. Some
processors may be integrated on the system board. Some of the processor manufacturers are Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and so on.
Computer fan
A computer fan cools the internal components of a computer by expelling hot air from the computer. Computer fans are
commonly used to cool components that have high power consumption and thus generate a high amount of heat. Keeping the
components cool helps in protecting them from overheating, malfunctioning, and damage.
Heat sink
Heat sinks are used to dissipate heat generated by the processor, some high-end graphics cards, and on-board chipsets. Heat
sinks generally have a fan mounted above or beside them to increase airflow. A heat sink is made up of fins or blades instead of
a single block of metal. This helps increase the surface area for increased heat dissipation. A layer of thermal grease is applied
between the processor or graphics card and the heat sink for easy exchange of heat.
22
About your computer