The Computer Revolution/Hardware/CPU
This page may need to be CPU stands for "Central Processing Unit". It’s pretty much the brain of a computer. It processes everything from basic function for complex once. Anything that needs to be computed it is sent to the CPU. In terms of computing power, the CPU is the most important element of a computer. Often in powerful computers such a dedicated servers there a 2 or more CPU used.
The CPU is also called the microprocessor or just the processor. Intel or Advanced Micro Devices produces most CPUs. Only recently were high-powered computers able to have multi-core CPUs. There are dual-core CPUs, which contain two cores; there are also quad-core CPUs, which contain four cores. There are many benefits to Multi-core CPUs. To start, they are helping to speed up the processing of a computer while decreasing the heat production. Multi-core CPUs are also responsible for multitasking, such as burning a cd while browsing the Internet.
The CPU also consist of a variety of connections and components that are confined together and connected directly to the motherboard. The motherboard is The main circuit board of a computer, located inside the system unit, to which all computer system components connect. ( Understanding Computers 13th edition). Today most personal computers use central processing units (CPU's) manufactured by Inter or Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). CPU manufacturers include creating CPU's that are as energy efficient as possible, because that would reduce power consumption and increase the battery life of the computer. Core i7 (quad-core) and AMD Phenom II ( its available in different -core versions) are most commonly used with desktop computers. Intel Core 2 and AMD Turion X2 mobile processors, both are design specifically for notebook and tablet computers.
A CPU includes several elements. The main component is a control unit which controls and coordinates all the operations in the CPU core. An arithmetic/logic unit performs all the calculations directed by the control unit. As data is being processed it is being stored temporarily in the internal cache memory and in the registers. A prefetch unit brings up data from the cache or RAM memory making it readily available for the anticipated processes. A decode unit then translates the data in a form recognized by the control unit and the other CPU components. The flow of information which allows the core to communicate with the other CPU components is facilitated by a Bus interface unit.
