The CPU and Von Neumann Architecture

• CPU

  Central Processing Unit, sits on the motherboard, responsible for processing and manipulating data
• CPU

  • Produces a lot of heat, requires a dedicated heatsink fan to cool it down
• Processor


  General term that can refer to the CPU or other processing components like graphics cards and sound cards
• CPU components

  • ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) - performs arithmetic and logical operations e.g Boolean logic
  • Control Unit - coordinates the CPU and overall computer
  • Register - small, quick storage locations on the CPU
• Von Neumann architecture


  The standard architecture for modern computers, consisting of memory, control unit, processing unit, and input/output devices
• In the Von Neumann architecture, instructions and data are stored together in memory
• Fetch-Execute cycle


  The process where the CPU fetches an instruction from memory, decodes it, executes it, and stores the result
• System clock

  Provides a steady pulse to synchronize the operation of computer circuits
• Clock speed

  The frequency at which the CPU operates, determines how fast it can execute instructions
• The faster the clock speed, the more instructions the CPU can execute per second