Definition of Computer CPU
The internal components of a computer are foreign to many but their functions are not difficult to understand. The CPU is one of the most basic and essential parts of a computer.
Other People Are Reading
-
Definition
-
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit, and is shorthand for the computer's processor.
Function
-
The CPU does the thinking and number crunching required by the computer's programs and hardware. RAM (random access memory) sends data to the CPU to be processed. A higher processor speed increases your computer's speed because it does the thinking faster. Greater RAM increases your computer's speed because it gives your CPU quicker access to more information.
-
Cores
-
If a CPU has more than one core it can distribute the processing work among its cores. This reduces the degree to which the computer slows down under a heavier strain. As of January 2010, dual and quad Core processors are widely available to consumers.
Physical Description
-
The very first CPUs were made out of large vacuum tubes. Today's CPUs are much smaller and are also known as microprocessors. They are now made up of a single silicon chip on top of a circuit board with millions of transistors, inside a square ceramic or plastic housing.
Installation
-
CPUs plug in to the computer's motherboard. CPUs are produced according to certain shapes (often referred to as sockets); not all motherboards and CPUs are compatible.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Garrette
More Like This
Comments
-
Do you have a store in Abileen Tx. My friend lives there and needs her lap-top checked out.
