The CPU

• What is the most important component in any computer system?


  The Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• To what is the CPU attached?

  The motherboard
• What is the purpose of the CPU?

  To process data and instructions by repeating the FDE cycle
• What does the Control Unit (CU) do?

  It sends control signals to direct the operation of the CPU
• What types of signals does the CU send?

  Control signals and timing signals
• What does the ALU stand for?

  Arithmetic and Logic Unit
• What operations does the ALU perform?

  It performs simple arithmetic and logical operations
• What is a register?

  A temporary storage space for one instruction or address
• When are different registers used?

  During the FDE cycle
• What is cache memory used for?

  To temporarily store data that is frequently accessed
• How does the access speed of cache compare to registers and RAM?

  Cache is slower to access than registers but much faster than RAM
• What is the most common type of computer architecture?

  Von Neumann architecture
• How does a computer with Von Neumann architecture store data?

  It stores both program instructions and data in the same memory (RAM)
• What does CPU stand for?


  Central Processing Unit
• What is the CPU's primary function?


  Executing most instructions that a computer program requires
• What is the CPU's fetch process?


  The process of retrieving an instruction from memory into the Register
• What is the primary purpose of the CPU?


  To execute instructions, control the flow of data, and manage resources
• What is the purpose of the Control Unit?


  To fetch, decode, execute, and manage the flow of data
• What is the purpose of the ALU?


  To perform arithmetic and logical operations on data
• What is the purpose of registers?


  To store data temporarily, hold results, and provide fast access
• What is the purpose of cache memory?


  To store frequently-used data and instructions to reduce access time and improve performance
• fetch decode execute cycle

  1. The address of the next instruction in memory held in the programme counter is copied into the MAR
  2. The address in the programme counter is incremented by one, now storing the address of the next instruction
  3. The processor sends a signal along the address bus to the MAR
  4. The instruction is sent along the data bus from the MAR to the MDR
  5. The instruction is copied to the CIR
  6. The instruction is decoded and then executed
  7. Results are stored in the ACC
  8. The cycle repeats