Architecture of the CPU

Architecture of the CPU

1. The fetch execute cycle.

   • The fetch execute cycle is the basic operation of a computer. The primary task of the CPU is to execute programs using the fetch – decode – execute cycle.

2. Common CPU components and their function.

   • Control Unit (CU), Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), Registers, Cache.
     • A control unit (CU) handles all processor control signals. It directs all input and output flow, fetches code for instructions from microprograms and directs other units and models by providing control and timing signals.
     • An arithmetic-logic unit is the part of a central processing unit that carries out arithmetic and logic operations on the operands in computer instruction words.
     • A register is one small set of data holding places that are part of the computer processor
     • Cache is hardware or software that is used to store something, usually data