The CPU

The CPU

1. The CPU is the central processing unit

   • The CPU is the BRAIN of the computer system.
   • It processes all of the DATA and INSTRUCTIONS that make the system work.
   • The processing power of a CPU depends on different characterists, like its CLOCK SPEED, NUMBER OF CORES and CACHE SIZE.
   • The CPU ARCHITECTURE describes the MAIN COMPONENTS of the CPU, how they INTERACT with each other, and with OTHER PARTS of the computer systems. VON NEUMANN and HARVARD are the two main types of architecture.

2. The CPU has 3 main parts

   • The control unit
     • The control unit is in OVERALL CONTROL of the CPU. Its main job is to EXECUTE PROGRAM INSTRUCTIONS by following the FETCH-DECODE-EXECUTE CYCLE.
     • It controls the flow of data INSIDE the CPU (to registers, ALU, cache) and OUTSIDE the CPU (to main memory and input/output devices).