NTS sells all used Intel processors, with the exception of the very latest generations. We also offer AMD Epic CPUs for desktop, workstations, servers. Used CPUs are much cheaper than new and have no noticeable loss of quality. NTS therefore offers a 1-year warranty on used processors.

A list of Windows 11 compatible CPUs can be found here.

What does a CPU do

A CPU, or central processing unit, is the heart of a computer that executes program instructions. It retrieves instructions from memory, decodes them and executes them, often at billions of calculations per second.

The speed of a CPU is measured in gigahertz (GHz), which indicates the frequency of the clock cycle. Modern CPUs have multiple cores, allowing them to process multiple tasks simultaneously. They play a crucial role in everything from simple tasks like word processing to complex calculations and gaming.

The performance of a CPU is affected by factors such as architecture, clock speed and the number of cores. As technology advances, CPUs become smaller, faster and more energy efficient, leading to more powerful and efficient computers and devices.

When is a CPU upgrade recommended

Processors are generally replaced for the following reasons:

The motherboard supports 2 CPUs but currently only has one
To make full use of your system, it is important to actually use available CPU sockets. Please note that an extra CPU also requires its own additional cooling.

Demanding software
If the demands placed on the system become higher than the current processor can handle, the system may slow down or have long loading times during applications. Examples of demanding software include graphics programs, rendering programs, games or high data traffic on servers.

The current CPU is defective
If the current processor is defective, it must be replaced. A defective processor often manifests itself in the following symptoms:

• Unexpected restarts or system crashes: If your computer restarts or freezes for no apparent reason, it could indicate a CPU problem.
• Overheating: A CPU that gets too hot can lead to system errors. Check whether the cooling is working properly.
• Blue screens: Frequent 'blue screens of death' (BSOD) can be an indication of a defective CPU.
• No boot: If the computer does not boot and does not beep or beep, this may indicate a CPU error.
• Bios error messages: Error messages during the POST (Power-On Self-Test) process may indicate a defective CPU.

If you experience these symptoms, please contact our helpdesk to ensure it is your processor.

If you are looking for a CPU upgrade for a server, keep in mind that an extra processor or faster processor may contain more cores and therefore a software license extension may be required, such as Microsoft Server core licenses. More information can be found on the Windows Server Core Calculator site.

Where can current CPU information be found

> Press the Windows key on your keyboard and type System.
> Select system information from the start menu.

The following window now opens:

Processor information is displayed with name, number and the speed of the processor.

In the case of a defective processor, the name and number can be read from the processor itself.
View the installation page to see how to access the processor in the system.

The above image also shows the SR33A product number, located next to the clock speed.

With this number you can immediately find product specifications on the following page: https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark.html 

Under "Package Specifications" you can see "Sockets supported".

Intel uses letters for the type of processor:

K means that the processor can be overclocked
G means that there is an AMD video chip in the processor
F means that there is no video chip in the processor

Find matching socket type

The socket is where the CPU is placed. The processor has pins that plug into the socket. New developments often result in new dimensions, so it is important that the socket corresponds to a new CPU. It is best to look this up online so that you do not have to open your system.

> Search product information online by model and socket type. This can be done on the following page: https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark.html 
> Select processor
> Choose CPU series name. All available models now expand into an accordion menu.
> The various specifications open in a table. Choose your specifications.
> See "Package Specifications," where you'll find "Sockets supported."

Alternatively, search for the processor name and number in Wikipedia.

Intel names sockets according to the number of pins on the processor:
1155, 2011, 2066 and with the current processors 1151.

AMD processors use socket names:
AM1, FM1, FM2, FM2+, AM3, AM3+ and AM4.

As long as your newly chosen processor has the same socket size, it will fit into your system.

What determines the speed of a processor

The performance of your computer mainly depends on the CPU.
The frequency at which a CPU operates is expressed in Gigahertz (GHz). The frequency is also called clock speed.
Modern CPUs have multiple cores, with each core functioning as an independent CPU. More cores generally means better performance. Threads indicate how many tasks can be executed simultaneously by the processor. The cache serves as an intermediate memory for the CPU and a larger cache can improve performance.

In short: for more intensive use of the system, more GHz, a larger cache and more cores are essential.

Choose a suitable CPU

Clock speed:
CPU speed of 3.5 GHz is more than enough for most users for daily applications. For video editing, gaming and other demanding applications, the best results are achieved with a CPU speed of 3.5 GHz to 4.0 GHz.

If you use programs that demand a lot from the processor, a high clock speed is better.

Cores:
The number of cores affects how much you can quickly run at the same time. If your daily usage involves a lot of multitasking and switching between applications, a higher core count will have more impact on your user experience than a high clock speed.

Cache:
Processors use cache memory to temporarily store tasks, with the advantage that the processor does not have to wait as long for RAM memory. This translates into better performance for video editing and gaming, for example, where large amounts of data are temporarily stored. For these applications, a total cache of 1-8MB is recommended. Total cache is the sum of cache per core.

For regular applications, lower cache is not a problem or even better, because smaller cache is generally accessed faster by the CPU.

What are CPU-benchmarks

Benchmarks allow easy comparison between multiple CPUs by assessing their performance on a standardized battery of tests. A benchmark website that does processor comparisons is PassMark.

PassMark performs heavy mathematical calculations that emphasize the CPU's performance on compression, encryption and physics tasks. These tests are converted into a CPU score, which can then be compared with other CPUs. They also provide a ranking of available processors.