Key Terminology

• CPU - Main component in a computer for processing data and instructions
• Control Unit - Directs the flow of instructions and data. It coordinates the other parts of the CPU. It controls the clock
• Arithmetic Logic Unit - performs all mathematical calculations in the CPU
• Registers - Fast access storage locations found on the CPU where data or control information is temporarily stored
• Cache - Super fast, very expensive volatile memory in the CPU
• Clock Speed - The number of FDE cycles that a CPU can carry out per second
• Cores - Some processors have multiple processors which can work in parallel, sequentially or can multitask
• Motherboard - main circuit board. It contains the CPU, RAM and others such as USB ports and DVD drives
• RAM - used for storing data and instructions currently being used by the processor
• ROM - Read only memory, a type of memory that can only be read and not written to
• RAM cache memory - holds data and instructions that are currently in use by the processor