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How Does a CPU Work?
CPU, also known as the microprocessor is the heart and/or brain of a computer. Let’s Deep dive into the core of the computer to help us write computer programs efficiently.https://unsplash.com/photos/FemeYrbdMWEA tool is usually more simple than a machine; it is generally used with the hand, whilst a machine is frequently moved by animal or steam power.— Charles BabbageA computer is a machine powered mostly by electricity but it’s flexibility and programability has helped achieve the simplicity of a tool.
CPU is the heart and/or the brain of a computer. It executes the instructions that are provided to it. It’s main job is to perform arithmetic and logical operations and orchestrate the instructions together. Before diving into the main parts let’s start by looking what are the main components of a CPU and what there roles are:
Two main components of a processor
- Control unit — CU
- Arithmetic and logical unit — ALU
Control Unit — CU
Control unit CU is the part of CPU that helps orchestrate the execution of instructions. It tells what to do. According to the instruction, it helps activate the wires connecting CPU to different other parts of computer including the ALU. Control unit is the first component of CPU to receive the instruction for processing.
There are two types of control unit:
- hardwired control units.
- microprogrammable (microprogrammed) control units.
Hardwired control units are the hardware and needs the change in hardware to add modify it’s working where as microprogrammable control unit can be programmed to change it’s behavior. Hardwired CU are faster in processing instruction whereas microprogrammable as more flexible.
Arithmetic and logical unit — ALU
Arithmetic and logical unit ALU as name suggest does all the arithmetic and logical computations. ALU performs the operations like addition, subtraction. ALU consists of logic circuitry or logic gates which performs these operations.
Most logic gates take in two input and produces one output
Bellow is an example of half adder circuit which takes in two inputs and outputs the result. Here A and B are the input, S is the output and C is the carry.
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