Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is a core component of modern computer systems. It is the processor of the computer, which provides the ability to execute a wide variety of operations and instructions. A CPU contains a number of components, including the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and the control unit (CU). The arithmetic logic unit is responsible for performing calculations and logic operations while the control unit is responsible for interpreting instructions and deciding what the CPU should do next.

The CPU is the brain of the computer, handling all of the instructions delivered from the operating system and interpreting them so the computer can understand them. A CPU executes instructions in a cycle known as the fetch-decode-execute cycle. The fetch phase retrieves instructions from memory and loads them into the CPU, the decode phase decodes the instructions and the execute phase actually executes the instructions.

The speed of a CPU is measured in frequency, denoted in hertz. As CPUs become more powerful, they are able to perform instructions faster. Clock speeds are often used to measure a processor’s performance. A processor can be described as having “more clocks” if it can perform more instructions in a cycle, as opposed to having “faster clocks” when the same number of instructions can be performed in a shorter amount of time.

Modern CPUs are becoming increasingly multi-core, meaning they contain multiple processors within a single package. This allows for greater parallelization, increasing a computer’s overall performance.

Since the inception of the microprocessor in the late 1970’s, CPUs have made massive advances in power and efficiency. CPUs now sit at the heart of all computer systems, from smartphones to the world’s most powerful supercomputers.