The CPU

The CPU

1. Carries out all the processing for the computer system

2. Made up of transistors (electronic switches) that combine to build logic gates

   • Process data and instructions

3. The Clock Chip

   • Uses a vibrating crystal that maintains a constant speed
     • Determines the speed of the processor

4. Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle

   • Fetching new instructions from memory, decoding them, then executing them.
     • As the computer switches on it will look at a specific place in ROM for the boot sequence
       • Then begins the process of executing the boot sequence
         • After the boot up control is passed to the OS to provide the programs for the CPU to run.
           • Operating Systems
       • Always stored in a specific place so that the CPU can find it