common cpu components

• The central processing unit (CPU) consists of six main components:

  • control unit (CU)
  • arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
  • registers
  • cache
  • buses
  • clock

  All components work together to allow processing and system control.

  A) clock

  B) registers

  C) control unit

  D) arithmetic logic unit

  E) cache

  F) primary memory

  G) external

  H) address

  I) data

  J) control

  
• Control unit

  The CU provides several functions:

  • Coordinates how data moves around the CPU by sending a signal to control the movement of the data
  • Decodes the instructions fetched from memory
• Arithmetic logic unit

  The ALU has two main functions:

  • It performs arithmetic and logical operations (decisions). The ALU is where calculations are done and where decisions are made.
  • It acts as a gateway between primary memory and secondary storage . Data transferred between them passes through the ALU.
• Cache

  Cache is a small amount of high-speed random access memory (RAM) built directly within the processor. It is used to temporarily hold data and instructions that the processor is likely to reuse. This allows for faster processing as the processor does not have to wait for the data and instructions to be fetched from the RAM
• Registers

  Registers are small amounts of high-speed memory contained within the CPU. They are used by the processor to store small amounts of data that are needed during processing, such as:

  • the address of the next instruction to be executed
  • the current instruction being decoded
  • the results of calculations

  Different processors have different numbers of registers for different purposes, but most have some, or all, of the following:

  • program counter
  • memory address register (MAR)
  • memory data register (MDR)
  • current instruction register (CIR)
  • accumulator (ACC)