What is the Central Processing Unit (CPU) on the computer?
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the heart and brain of a computer. It receives data input, executes instructions, and processes information. It communicates with input/output (I/O) devices, which send and receive data to and from the CPU. Additionally, the CPU has an internal bus for communication with the internal cache memory, called the backside bus. The main bus for data transfer to and from the CPU, memory, chipset, and AGP socket is called the front-side bus.
The CPU contains internal memory units, which are called registers. These registers contain data, instructions, counters and addresses used in the ALU’s information processing.
The central processing unit (CPU) is the computer component that’s responsible for interpreting and executing most of the commands from the computer’s other hardware and software.
All sorts of devices use a CPU, including desktop, laptop, and tablet computers, smartphones…even your flat-screen television set.
A computer’s CPU handles all instructions it receives from hardware and software running on the computer.
The CPU is often referred to as the brain of the computer. However, it is more appropriate to refer to software as the brain and the CPU as a very efficient calculator.
What does the CPU do?
The CPU’s main function is to take input from a peripheral (keyboard, mouse, printer, etc) or computer program, interpret what it needs, and then either output information to your monitor, or perform the peripheral’s requested task.
CPU history
The CPU was first developed at Intel with the help of Ted Hoff and others in the early 1970’s. The first processor released by Intel was the 4004 processor.
The CPU itself is an internal component of the computer. Modern CPUs are small and square and contain multiple metallic connectors or pins on the underside. The CPU is inserted directly into a CPU socket, pin side down, on the motherboard.
Components of a CPU
The two typical components of a CPU include the following:
- The arithmetic logic unit (ALU), which performs arithmetic and logical operations.
- The control unit (CU), which extracts instructions from memory and decodes and executes them, calling on the ALU when necessary.