Tutorials | Hardware Secrets

All Athlon 64 Models
October 7, 2009 - By Rafael Otto Coelho and Gabriel Torres and Cássio Lima
A series of quick reference tables containing the main specs of all Athlon 64, Athlon 64 FX, Athlon 64 X2, Athlon II X2 and Athlon II X4 models released to date. Updated to include the new Athlon II X4 CPU.

All Core i7 Models
September 25, 2009 - By Rafael Otto Coelho and Gabriel Torres
A quick reference table showing the main specs of all Core i7 models released to date. Updated to include socket 1156 and socket 988 (laptop) models.

All Phenom Models
September 23, 2009 - By Rafael Otto Coelho and Gabriel Torres and Cássio Lima
A series of quick reference tables showing the main specs of all Phenom and Phenom II models released to date. Updated.

All Pentium Dual Core Models
September 14, 2009 - By Rafael Otto Coelho and Gabriel Torres and Cássio Lima
A series of quick reference tables containing the main specs of all Pentium Dual Core released to date. Updated.

All Sempron Models
August 28, 2009 - By Rafael Otto Coelho and Gabriel Torres and Cássio Lima
A series of quick reference tables containing the main specs of all Sempron processors released to date. Updated to include socket AM3 model.

All Atom Models
August 21, 2009 - By Rafael Otto Coelho
A quick reference table comparing the main specs of all Atom models released to date. Updated.

All Core 2 Models
August 18, 2009 - By Rafael Otto Coelho and Gabriel Torres
A series of quick reference tables containing all Core 2 Solo, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Extreme CPUs released to date. Updated.

All Turion Models
May 27, 2009 - By Gabriel Torres and Cássio Lima and Rafael Otto Coelho
A series of quick reference tables containing the main specs of all Turion 64 and Turion 64 X2 processors released to date. Updated.

All Core Duo and Core Solo Models
March 31, 2009 - By Rafael Otto Coelho and Cássio Lima
A series of quick reference tables containing the main specs of all Core Duo and Core Solo processors released to date. Updated.

All Celeron Models
March 19, 2009 - By Rafael Otto Coelho and Gabriel Torres and Cássio Lima
A series of quick reference tables containing the main specs of all Celeron models released to date. Updated to include Celeron Dual Core E1500.

Inside Atom Architecture
September 12, 2008 - By Gabriel Torres
Atom is a CPU from Intel targeted to laptops and mobile internet devices running normal x86 instructions and dissipating less than 3 W. Let’s take a look on this processor. Including a sneak peak on the future “Moorestown”platform.

Everything You Need to Know About the CPU C-States Power Saving Modes
September 5, 2008 - By Gabriel Torres
The CPU has several power saving modes called C-states. In this tutorial we will explain what these modes are, what they do and the modes supported by each processor.

Inside Intel Nehalem Microarchitecture
August 26, 2008 - By Gabriel Torres
Nehalem is the codename of the new Intel CPU with integrated memory controller that will reach the market next month and that will be called Core i7. Everything you need to know about this CPU is here.

Everything You Need to Know About The QuickPath Interconnect (QPI)
August 25, 2008 - By Gabriel Torres
QuickPath Interconnect is the name of the external bus used by the Intel forthcoming CPUs with integrated memory controller, like the Core i7. In this tutorial we will explain how this bus works.

All Xeon Models
January 21, 2008 - By Gabriel Torres and Cássio Lima
A series of quick reference tables containing the main specs of all Xeon processors released to date, including Pentium II Xeon, Pentium III Xeon, Xeon, Xeon MP, dual-core Xeon and quad-core Xeon. Updated to include 45 nm models.

Maximum CPU Temperature
October 11, 2007 - By Gabriel Torres and Cássio Lima
Learn what is the maximum temperature your CPU can reach without burning and how to measure your CPU current temperature.

All Opteron Models
October 4, 2007 - By Gabriel Torres and Cássio Lima
A series of quick reference tables containing the main specs of all Opteron processors released to date. Updated to include third-generation ("Barcelona") models.

All CPU Sockets
September 26, 2007 - By Gabriel Torres and Cássio Lima
A table containing all sockets and slots used by all PC processors released to date, with examples of compatible CPUs and pinouts. Updated to include Socket AM2+.

All Pentium 4 Models
September 15, 2007 - By Cássio Lima
A series of quick reference tables containing the main specs of all Pentium 4 models released to date. Updated.

All Pentium D and Pentium Extreme Edition Models
September 15, 2007 - By Cássio Lima
A series of quick reference tables containing the main specs of all Pentium D and Pentium Extreme Edition processors released to date. Updated to include 915, 925,935 and 945 Pentium Extreme Edition models.

How The Memory Cache Works
September 12, 2007 - By Gabriel Torres
In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about cache memory in an easy to follow language.

Inside AMD K10 Architecture
September 3, 2007 - By Gabriel Torres
Everything you need to know about the new K10 architecture that will be used by forthcoming AMD processors, like Phenom and Opteron “Barcelona”, including roadmaps.

The HyperTransport Bus Used By AMD Processors
August 30, 2007 - By Gabriel Torres
Everything you need to know about the HyperTransport bus used by AMD processors, including the most common mistakes people say about this bus. Updated to include HyperTransport 3.0.

All Pentium M Models
August 16, 2007 - By Cássio Lima
A series of quick reference tables containing the main specs of all Pentium M models released to date. Updated to include new models.

How to Upgrade Your CPU
March 9, 2007 - By Gabriel Torres
A series of tables showing which processors you can install on your system without replacing your current motherboard.

How to Enable Processor-Based Security
February 27, 2007 - By Gabriel Torres
Learn how to correctly enable NX/EVP/XD/DEP technology on your PC, allowing the CPU to detect malicious code and block it automatically.

Athlon 64 Overclocking
July 20, 2006 - By Gabriel Torres
A step-by-step guide on how to overclock your Athlon 64 CPU, with useful tips that will please even users with some experience on the subject.

Inside AMD64 Architecture
May 16, 2006 - By Gabriel Torres
An in-depth look on how CPUs based on AMD64 architecture work, like Athlon 64, Athlon 64 X2, Athlon 64 FX, Turion 64, Opteron and some Sempron models.

Inside Intel Core Microarchitecture
April 12, 2006 - By Gabriel Torres
An in-depth look on the new microarchitecture that will be used by the new Intel CPUs to be released this year, codenamed Merom, Conroe and Woodcrest.

Inside Pentium M Architecture
January 4, 2006 - By Gabriel Torres
Learn how Pentium M processor works.

Intel LaGrande Technology Explained
December 20, 2005 - By Gabriel Torres
Everything you need to know about the new LaGrande Technology from Intel, which improves computer security and will be shipped on next generation Intel CPUs (Merom, Conroe and Woodcrest).

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT) Explained
December 16, 2005 - By Gabriel Torres
Everything you need to know about the new Virtualization Technology (VT) from Intel that is being shipped with the latest Pentium 4 CPUs.

Intel EM64T Technology Explained
December 15, 2005 - By Gabriel Torres
Everything you need to know about Intel's 64-bit technology available on Pentium 4 6xx and Pentium D CPUs.

How Chips are Manufactured
November 24, 2005 - By Gabriel Torres
Learn how chips like microprocessors, video processors, memories, chipsets etc are manufactured.

Athlon 64 Cores
October 25, 2005 - By Gabriel Torres
A quick guide to all Athlon 64 cores released to date: ClawHammer, NewCastle, Winchester, Venice and San Diego.

Inside Pentium 4 Architecture
October 18, 2005 - By Gabriel Torres
Learn how Pentium 4 processor works.

How a CPU Works
September 26, 2005 - By Gabriel Torres
Learn how a CPU works in an easy to follow language, including topics such as clock, memory cache, CPU block diagram, an overall view on the basic CPU units, pipeline, superscalar architecture, out-of-order execution and speculative execution.

How to Identify 64-bit Sempron CPUs
September 20, 2005 - By Gabriel Torres
Learn how to detect if your socket 754 Sempron CPU has the AMD 64-bit extensions (x86-64) or not.

How to Overclock a Socket 775 Pentium 4
September 15, 2005 - By Gabriel Torres and Daniel Barros
It is not so easy to overclock socket 775 Pentium 4 since Intel 915 and 925 chipsets have a protection against overclocking. Learn how to be successful in overclocking this type of CPU.

Sempron vs. Celeron D
September 8, 2005 - By Cássio Lima
Learn the main differences between Sempron from AMD and Celeron D from Intel, two processors targeted to the entry-level market.

How to Enable Cool
April 26, 2005 - By Gabriel Torres
Learn how to enable AMD's Cool'n'Quiet technology, present on Athlon 64 CPUs, which lowers the CPU temperature and system noise.

Sempron vs. Athlon XP
April 25, 2005 - By Gabriel Torres and Daniel Barros
What is the difference between Sempron and Athlon XP processors? Learn in this tutorial. Includes tables with specs of all Sempron and Athlon XP models.

How to Correctly Assemble PCs with Pentium 4 Prescott
March 16, 2005 - By Daniel Barros
Pentium 4 with Prescott core has new specs for cooling, case and power supply. A lot of people is assembling PCs using "old" products with their new Pentium 4 and the PC is overheating, slowing down or the power supply is simply burning.

Pentium 4 Thermal Throttle
March 10, 2005 - By Gabriel Torres
What is the Thermal Throttling feature? Learn how to check if your processor is overheating using this feature.

On-Board Processors
November 26, 2004 - By Gabriel Torres
Everything you need to know about on-board CPUs found on motherboards from PCChips, ECS and Amptron that use a bogus naming system.

Intel is going to Identify Their Processors Through Numbers
November 26, 2004 - By Gabriel Torres
Learn about the new numbering scheme that Intel is applying to their new processors.

Athlon XP Overclocking Tape
November 24, 2004 - By Gabriel Torres
Learn about Speed Strip, a tape that you can install on your Athlon XP pins to unlock its clock multiplier.

Counterfeit Athlon XP Processors
November 4, 2004 - By Gabriel Torres
Learn about counterfeit Athlon XP processors that reached the market and how to identify them.

All Pentium III Models
October 13, 2004 - By Gabriel Torres
A series of quick reference tables containing the main specs of all Pentium III models released to date.

Activating the Hyper-Threading
October 12, 2004 - By Gabriel Torres
See how to enable the HyperThreading tecnology on your PC.

How to Transform an Athlon XP into an Athlon MP
October 12, 2004 - By Gabriel Torres
With a small modification on the body of the Athlon XP CPU you can transform it into an Athlon MP processor.