AI Term of the Moment
NVIDIA DRIVE
Redirected from: CPU clock
Definition: clock
An internal timing device. Every computing device uses a quartz crystal clock to breathe life into the processor by feeding it a constant flow of pulses. For example, a 2 GHz CPU receives two billion pulses per second, and 6 GHz is about tops for computer clocks these days. See overclock and clock buffer.
Other Clocks
A "real-time clock" or "system clock" makes the time of day available to the software. In a mainframe, a "timesharing clock" interrupts the CPU at regular intervals to allow the operating system to divide time between many users. See Hertz, per clock, clockless computing and how to spoof your techie friends.
The CPU Clock
12 Megahertz and Beyond!
Other Clocks
A "real-time clock" or "system clock" makes the time of day available to the software. In a mainframe, a "timesharing clock" interrupts the CPU at regular intervals to allow the operating system to divide time between many users. See Hertz, per clock, clockless computing and how to spoof your techie friends.
The quartz crystal generates continuous waves, which are converted into digital pulses.
The April 1987 issue of PC Magazine pondered the price tag of faster computers. Of course we all found out how much they cost as computers reached two gigahertz and beyond. Today, state-of-the-art computers have clocks up to 6 GHz, roughly 300 times faster than the 16 MHz clock featured on this cover. (Image courtesy of PCMag.com.)