Core 2 Duo Socket 478/N Computer Processor

Everything You Need To Know About Core 2 Duo Socket 478 N Processors

Upgrading your Intel Core processor to a Core 2 Duo processor can significantly increase the GHz speed and performance of your laptop over a single core processor. The CPU is just one component in an entire system, however, so it's important to ensure you are purchasing products compatible with all the other electronics on your laptop as well. Here are some important things to know about upgrading your laptop to a Core 2 Duo processor.

This socket is a type of connector that connects the Intel Core processor to the motherboard. If you are planning on upgrading your Intel Core processor, you need to ensure that the socket type of the Core 2 duo CPU that you purchase is compatible with your motherboard. In addition to determining if the 478 N socket on the Core 2 Duo processor is compatible with your motherboard, you will also need to know the maximum MHz external clock rate.

The processing speed of the Core 2 Duo chip is measured in GHz whereas the clock speed of the motherboard is measured in MHz, so a chip may be labeled as "2 GHz, 1066 MHz", referring to the processing speed and clock speed. The clock speed of the Intel Core chip needs to match the clock speed of the motherboard. Once you install the Intel Core chip, you will also want to do a scan to ensure the chip is operating at the proper clock speed.

Cores are what allow the CPU to separate tasks to provide more GHz of processing power to one task and less GHz to another. In an age of Windows, most people multi-task on their computers — sometimes even when they don't know they are. If you have an auto-update feature on your computer, it may automatically download and update certain software right when you are trying to stream a movie without you even knowing it is happening. A single core chip cannot separate the GHz of processing power necessary for downloading a software update from the GHz necessary to perform other tasks, so one high-demand task slows the entire system down.

Dual-core processors, however, allow the processor to allocate more GHz of power to more demanding tasks and less GHz to less demanding tasks. While a dual-core CPU is significantly faster than a single-core CPU, it is still not generally fast enough to accommodate some of the most demanding computing tasks. These tasks include the following:

• Streaming HD movies
• Video editing
• Gaming

The important thing to keep in mind about Core 2 Duo CPUs is that they are one part of an entire system that operates your computer. Your Core 2 Duo CPU needs to not only have the right socket to fit with the motherboard but also have the right configuration to support other components. Because your Core 2 Duo CPU will have greater processing power than a regular Intel Core chip, you can even further increase the performance of your laptop by upgrading your RAM as well so that you can take advantage of the increased capacity of a dual-core chip.