Computer hardware components use different performance measures. Which…

Concept — A rate that counts repeated cycles per second is expressed in hertz (Hz), where 1 Hz means one cycle per second.

For digital processors, clock frequency describes how many clock cycles occur each second. Other hardware classes are normally compared through measures suited to their own work.

Application

The CPU operates in step with an electronic clock, so its clock frequency is commonly stated in megahertz or gigahertz, both multiples of hertz.

Contrast

• Hard Disk Drive (HDD): storage performance is commonly described through transfer rate, access time, input/output operations per second, and rotational speed.

• Solid State Drive (SSD): storage performance is commonly described through read/write throughput, latency, and input/output operations per second.

• Laser Printer: printing performance is commonly described through pages per minute and print resolution in dots per inch.

Cross-check

Megahertz and gigahertz both contain the unit hertz, confirming that they are frequency units rather than storage or printing measures.

Therefore, the component whose clock frequency is measured in hertz is the Central Processing Unit (CPU).