The processor, also known as the CPU (Central Processing Unit), is the primary component of a computer that performs most of the processing inside the computer
Key components of the processor include the ALU, CU, and memory registers:
ALU performs computations
CU controls the operations of the CPU
Registers store data
The ALU is responsible for carrying out arithmetic and logical operations such as addition, subtraction, and comparison operations
The CU contains the decoder unit which interprets machine code instructions and controls their execution
The fetch-decode-execute cycle is crucial for the CPU: fetch the instruction from memory, decode it, and then execute it
Registers within the CPU:
Program Counter (PC)
Memory Address Register (MAR)
Memory Data Register (MDR)
Current Instruction Register (CIR)
Each has a specific function, from holding memory addresses to storing the instruction being executed
Cache memory is a small amount of high-speed RAM on the processor that stores frequently used data, reducing the need to fetch data from slower main memory
Pipelining is a method where the processor starts processing a second instruction before the first one has completed, increasing system throughput
The clock speed of the CPU, measured in Hertz, determines how many instructions a single core can process in one second
Multi-core systems, parallel execution, and concurrency allow a CPU to process multiple tasks simultaneously through various methods like splitting tasks between cores or simultaneous multi-threading
Factors affecting performance include instruction set, data types, processor clockspeed, cache memory, and pipelining. Understanding the trade-offs associated with these factors is crucial
