The CPU

What is the CPU?

CPU stands for Central Processing Unit.

The CPU is considered the brain of the computer because it is used to process data and instructions, just like a human brain.

Every single type of computer needs a CPU, from desktop computers to laptops, game consoles, even smart TVs and smart watches.

The CPU plugs directly into the motherboard in a special socket.

The CPU works in a cycle (called the FDE cycle), which it repeats up to billions of times a second.

In the FDE cycle, the CPU first fetches instructions from RAM.

Next, the CPU decodes (understands) the instructions and finally executes (runs) them.

The clock speed is how many instructions a CPU can carry out per second.

Clock speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz), where 1 GHz = 1 billion cycles per second.

The higher the clock speed, the faster the CPU will run, as more instructions can be processed per second.

The Control Unit (CU) sends control signals to direct the operation of the CPU. It also decodes instructions as part of the FDE cycle.

ALU stands for Arithmetic Logic Unit. It performs simple calculations and compares data.

The registers are temporary storage spaces for instructions inside the CPU. They are used in the FDE cycle.

Cache memory stores frequently accessed data that the CPU needs to access at very high speeds.

Typical clock speed:

3.5 GHz

3.9 GHz

3.3 GHz

Overclocking is when the computer's clock speed is increased higher than the recommended speed.

This will make the computer perform faster but it can lead to overheating and could damage the computer.

Underclocking is when the computer's clock speed is decreased lower than the recommended speed.

This will make the computer perform slower but will increase the lifespan of the computer.