Central processing unit
A central processing unit (CPU) is an important part of every computer. The CPU sends signals to control the other parts of the computer, almost like how a brain controls a body.
The CPU is an electronic machine that works on a list of things to do, called 'instructions'. It reads the list of instructions, one instruction at a time, and does each one in order. A list of instructions that a CPU can read is a computer program. A machine that can perform the job of a CPU is often called a Turing machine by mathematicians.
The speed that a CPU works at is measured in "Hertz", "Hz", however modern processors run so fast that "Gigahertz", "GHz", is used. One gigahertz is one billion hertz.
[change] Functionality
Here are some of the basic things a CPU can do:
- Add one number with another
- Test to see if one number is bigger than another
- Move a number from one place to another
- Get a number from memory
- Jump to another place in the instruction list
Even very complicated programs can be made by combining many simple instructions like these. This is possible because each instruction takes a very short time to happen. Many CPUs today can do more than 1 billion (1,000,000,000) instructions in a single second. In general, the more a CPU can do in a given time, the faster it is. One way to measure a processor's speed is MIPS. Flops and CPU clock speed (usually measured in gigahertz) are also ways to measure how much work a processor can do in a certain time.
A CPU is built out of logic gates; it has no moving parts. The CPU of a computer is connected electronically to other parts of the computer, like the video card, or the BIOS. A computer program can control these peripherals by reading or writing numbers to special places in the computer's memory.
[change] Multiple Cores
Some newer processors have "Multiple Cores". This means that they have many processors built on to the same chip so that they can do more than one thing at once.
While the individual cores might be slower than a single core processor, all the cores can work together to go faster. This means that the GHz might be lower, however the overall speed of the processor will be higher.
To make an analogy, think of cars;
- One car travelling at 100 miles per hour for an hour, will cover 100 miles.
- Four cars travelling at 70 miles per hour for an hour will cover only 70 miles each, but together they will cover a total of 280 miles.
[change] Further Information
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