What is CPU?

A crucial component of a computer, the central processing unit, or CPU, is responsible for much of the processing. Because it executes computer programmes’ instructions, it is frequently referred to as the “brain” of the computer.

The CPU reads the necessary computations and instructions from memory and then transmits the results back to a memory or to an output device. Its two main parts are the control unit and the arithmetic logic unit (ALU). While the ALU does arithmetic and logical operations to data, the control unit retrieves and decodes instructions from memory. A system bus links the CPU to other parts of the computer, including the motherboard, memory, and input/output devices.

CPU performs actions, calculations, and application execution in three steps by interpreting binary signals:

Fetch: The CPU retrieves instructions from the computer’s memory and saves them in the Instruction Register, a section of its control unit (IR).

Decode: The CPU passes the IR instruction to its instruction decoder for processing. The instruction is converted into signals by this combinatorial circuit.

Execute: For the execution step of the CPU, the decoded signals are sent to the appropriate locations.

Additionally, a CPU interacts with other parts. For instance, it might use pertinent information transmitted from a video game to a graphics card. The information is subsequently processed by the graphics card for display on a monitor. Similar to this, a CPU aids in the transfer of data from a computer’s hard drive to memory for quicker access.