If you’re a Mac user, you know that the processor your Mac uses is important to its performance. But what if you don’t know which one it is? Here’s how to check.
- Open System Preferences and select the Processor tab.
- Look for the processor that is listed as your “default” in the drop-down list. If it’s not there, change it to be sure by clicking on the “change” button next to it and then selecting “processor.”
- If your “default” processor is not listed in System Preferences, you may need to upgrade your Mac if it doesn’t have one of these processors: Intel Core Duo or AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor (Athlon 64 X2 5200+, Athlon 64 X2 5600+, etc.).
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the number-crunching brain of your Mac. Its characteristics determine how fast your Mac processes information. The type of CPU varies based on which model you have. Here’s how to quickly check which CPU is in your computer.
First, click the Apple menu at the upper left, and then click “About This Mac.”
In the menu that appears, you’ll get a quick roundup of your Mac’s specifications, including the type of CPU it has next to “Processor.” In the image below, we see this iMac has a 3.5 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 CPU.
To get even more information on your Mac’s CPU, click “System Report.”
Click “Hardware” in the list on the left. The pane on the right will then display detailed information about your Mac’s processor, including all of the following:
The processor name and speed The number of processors and cores L2 cache size L3 cache size If hyper-threading is enabled
RELATED: CPU Basics: Multiple CPUs, Cores, and Hyper-Threading Explained
When you’re done, just close “System Report.” You’ll know much more about your machine than you did before.
If your Mac has been a bit sluggish, there are several you can speed it up before shelling out for an upgrade. Knowledge is power!
RELATED: How to Speed Up Your Old Mac and Give It a New Life
