cpu

cpu

1. A central processing unit (CPU) is the electronic circuitry within a computer that carries out the instructions of a computer program by performing the basic arithmetic, logic, controlling and input/output (I/O) operations specified by the instructions. The computer industry has used the term "central processing unit" at least since the early 1960s.[1] Traditionally, the term "CPU" refers to a processor, more specifically to its processing unit and control unit (CU), distinguishing these core elements of a computer from external components such as main memory and I/O circuitry.[2] The form, design, and implementation of CPUs have changed over the course of their history, but their fundamental operation remains almost unchanged. Principal components of a CPU include the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) that performs arithmetic and logic operations, processor registers that supply operands to the ALU and store the results of ALU operations and a control unit that orchestrates the fetching (f

2. A computer’s central processing unit, also known as its CPU, can be overclocked or underclocked. Overclocking involves the CPU’s clock rate above its manufacturer-specified default rate, and underclocking reduces the clock rate. The clock rate controls the amount of cycles the CPU performs each second, which affects the CPU’s performance. Underclocking and overclocking have advantages and disadvantages.