Which unit is used to measure the clock rate?

The unit used to measure the clock rate is expressed in hertz, specifically in gigahertz (GHz) for modern technology. Clock rate refers to the speed at which a microprocessor executes instructions and is vital for gauging the performance of a computer.

Hertz represents the number of cycles per second; thus, when the clock rate is measured in gigahertz, it indicates how many billion cycles or instructions can be processed every second by the CPU. Since modern processors typically operate at frequencies in the gigahertz range (for instance, 3.0 GHz means 3 billion cycles per second), this measure is an essential factor in determining a processor's efficiency and performance capabilities.

While hertz is the basic unit, gigahertz is more relevant for contemporary processors due to the high frequencies involved. Therefore, recognizing gigahertz as the appropriate measurement unit for clock rate emphasizes the speed and performance of computing systems in practical applications.