A quad-core processor or CPU (central processing unit) is one that consists of four processing units. Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD)--two of the biggest personal computer chip producers in the world--carry such items: with the Intel Core 2 Quad and AMD Phenom x4 line-ups, respectively.
Clock Speed
Each quad-core processor has a clock speed. Also known as the core or processing speed, it is the rate at which the processor performs its functions. The Intel Core 2 Quad CPUs have a clock speed range of 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) to 3 GHz. The clock speed range of the AMD Phenom x4 is lower: at 1.8 GHz to 2.6 GHz.
Bus Speed
Another major feature of quad-core processors is the bus speed, which is the rate at which it connects with the computer's motherboard. The bus speed range of the Intel Core 2 Quad is 1,066 megahertz (MHz) to 1,333 MHz. The AMD Phenom x4 is much faster, with bus speeds that hit as high as 4,000 MHz.
Power
Generally, Intel's quad-core processors do not use as much power as AMD's. Peak power for the Intel Core 2 Quad is at 105 watts (W). For the AMD Phenom x4, it can go as high as 140 W.
Tags: Core Quad, Intel Core, Intel Core Quad, speed range, clock speed, clock speed range, quad-core processor