How to Understand the Microprocessor

Learn the functions of a microprocessor.

The microprocessor is a tiny electronic chip in the motherboard of a computer. It functions as the means to executing the command to start loading the computer operating system, and it initiates the activation of all the components necessary to allow the use of a computer. The microprocessor is considered to be the "engine" of a computer, and understanding it better can help you learn more about computers and the impact a microprocessor has on your daily life.

Instructions

1. Know and understand the following basic information about a microprocessor:

   --It is a small electronic chip (microchip) or integrated circuit (IC) in a computer motherboard.

   --It contains most, if not all of the central processing unit (CPU) functions of a computer.

   --It gets the first instruction from the basic input/output system (BIOS) when you turn your computer on.

   --A microprocessor is designed to perform arithmetic and logic operations that make use of small number-holding areas called registers.

2. Know the basic function of a microprocessor. The basic function of a microprocessor is to process a series of numbers placed into sequences from a computer software or program. These sequences gives instruction to the microprocessor, which then relates information to other parts of the computer. This facilitates the actions necessary for a program to function. The basic functions of a microprocessor also include the following:

   --Perform mathematical operations including extremely sophisticated operations on large floating point numbers.

   --Move data from one memory location to another.

   --Make decisions and jump to a new set of instructions based on those decisions.

3. Learn how to measure speed of a microprocessor. Microprocessor speeds are typically measured in megahertz (MHz), which measures the amount of processing cycles or things that can be performed per second in millions (megahertz) or in billions (gigahertz). As of 2010, microprocessors have speeds upwards of 1500 MHz (or 1.5 GHz). Microprocessors made before the Pentium 4 microprocessor had speed measurement in megahertz, while those made as Pentium 4 had speed in gigahertz. Essentially, the higher the speed measurement, the faster a microprocessor can work.

4. Understand how microprocessor power is measured. The power of a microprocessor is measured in bits, which means that the more bits a microprocessor has, the more data it can handle. The higher the speed measurement of a microprocessor, the more processes can be done in a shorter amount of time. As of 2010, computers typically contained 32-bit microprocessors, but 65-bit microprocessors had been developed for bigger computers and servers.

5. Keep updated with the latest technological advances in microprocessor design. Technological advances have been made in designing microprocessors such as increasing the number of microprocessors in a single chip, resulting to a multi-core microprocessor. A multi-core processor is a single chip that has more than one microprocessor core. This effectively multiplies the potential performance (as long as the operating system and software are designed to take advantage of more than one processor).

References

• Stevens Water: Understanding Microprocessors, Advantages of 32-bit CPUs and DSPs
• Howstuffworks: How Microprocessors Work