CPU is a very general term in the field of computers and many other
electronic devices. A computer system cannot function without the CPU,
making it the key component of the computer. Although the term is quite
common, most people get confused about whether there is any full form of
CPU?
In this article, we are discussing the essential topics about CPU including
the CPU full form, definition, types, components used, etc.
What You Will Learn
What is the full form of CPU?
The meaning or full form of CPU is
Central Processing Unit. It is one of the primary units used on computers these days. CPU usage is
also very common in other electronic devices. For example, smartphones,
tablets, notebooks, gaming consoles, etc. In the context of computers, the
CPU is also known by many other names such as
chip, processor, central processor, main processor, processing device,
etc.
The full form of CPU can be explained as:
| C | Central |
| P | Processing |
| U | Unit |
Let’s talk about what exactly CPU is:
What is a CPU?
As the name suggests, the Central Processing Unit is the primary component
of the computer that helps to perform most of the processing for the
computer. It adds processing power to the computer, allowing the computer to
execute a set of instructions or programs inside the computer. Modern
computers come with a powerful central processing unit to process multiple
tasks at once.
The CPU is responsible for processing all the basic to complex arithmetic
and logical operations in the computer to accomplish the respective results.
Also, it controls all the activities within the computer and helps the
various components of the computer system to communicate with each other to
perform their respective functions. The CPU also takes the help of chipsets
or other microchips mounted on the motherboard to control the flow of data
and instructions between computer parts.
Intel and
AMD
are currently the two most popular manufacturers of computer processors.
Furthermore, Snapdragon and MediaTek are two popular manufacturers of mobile
phone processors.
Note: Some people also refer to the computer case as the CPU;
however, it is not so. The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is mounted on the
motherboard inside the computer case. The CPU is also called the brain of
the computer system.
History of CPU
The use of the term CPU in the computer industry dates back to the early
1960s. Initially, the term CPU was used to refer to a device designed for
software execution and this came about with the advent of the stored-program
computer.
In 1971, Intel released the first commercial CPU, named the Intel 4004.
Italian physicist Federico Faggin was the principal designer of the first
commercial CPU and is called the inventor of the CPU. This CPU was designed
and intended for use as a single-core-chip in programmable calculators.
Later, there was a continuous development towards compression of the CPU
structure until it was converted to a single-chip design.
Some important events related to the history of CPU are as follows:
• Silicon, one of the primary elements of CPU, was introduced by
Baron Jons Jackob in the year 1823.
• In 1903, Nikola Tesla patented an electrical logic circuit (gate or
switch).
• The first transistor was designed in 1947 at Bell Laboratories by
John Barden, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley.
• The first integrated circuit was designed by Robert Noyce and Jack
Kilby in the year 1958.
• Modern CPUs come with millions of transistors coupled on a single
rectangular silicon chip.
Construction of CPU
When it comes to manufacturing, the CPU is made up of a large number of
integrated circuits which are connected on a single circuitry or chip.
Integrated circuits (ICs) are manufactured using millions of nano
components, known as transistors, and made of semiconductor material, or
silicon.
Transistors used in CPUs are commonly referred to as the building blocks for
processors. They are programmed to have two specific states, such as On or
Off. They can either be On or Off at a time. This is one of the main reasons
why a computer's processor understands binary code, 0 (Off state) and 1 (On
state).
Components of CPU
Although the physical structure or design may change slightly from one CPU
to another, each CPU consists of the following three components:
Control Unit
The control unit is the main component of the CPU and handles all computer
operations and activities, such as input/output devices, memory handling,
process execution sequences, etc. It can be referred to as the center of all
the processing activities that take place inside a computer device, making
it the backbone of the computer to some extent.
Arithmetic Logic Unit
The arithmetic logic unit is another essential component of the CPU. It
comes into play when any mathematical, logical, comparison based or
decision-making process is to be processed. This unit handles mathematical
operations like addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, and logical
operations like AND, OR, equal to, less than, greater than, etc.
Memory Unit
The memory unit of the CPU refers to the built-in memory of the CPU. It is
not part of the main memory (or
RAM). Instead, it is memory located in the CPU in the form of caches and
registers. CPU memory is the smallest and fastest memory of the computer.
CPU uses this memory to store input data, instructions, running data, and
running results. Since CPU memory is small, the CPU can also use main memory
to store corresponding data when needed or when the size of data is
comparatively large to store.
The components of the CPU are also referred to as the ‘Functional Units’ of the computer system.
How does CPU work?
The working or functioning of the CPU can be explained by the following four
operations:
• Fetch: CPU receives or takes instructions from memory unit or from RAM.
• Decode: Instructions are converted to know which other parts of the computer
should be used to process a particular task. The CPU uses the instruction
decoder and decodes the instructions into commands.
• Execute: The CPU activates all the computer parts required to perform the given
task. The related task is then processed or executed.
• Write: The CPU sends the results back to memory. Depending on the size of the
results, it is stored either in the CPU's memory or in RAM.
Types of CPU
There are mainly three types of CPU, such as:
• Transistor type CPU
• Small Scale Integration type CPU
• Large Scale Integration type CPU
In common terms, computers’ CPU is classified as:
single-core, dual-core, quad-core, hexa-core, octa-core,
and so on. Multi-core set-ups are similar to installing multiple, separate
processors in a single computer. Because all the cores (multiple single
processors) are mounted on the same board and plugged into the same socket,
the connection between them is fast, making multitasking accordingly faster.
| Dual Core | 2 Cores |
| Quad-Core | 4 Cores |
| Hexa Core | 6 Cores |
| Octa-Core | 8 Cores |
Summary
CPU (stands for Central Processing Unit) is the primary unit of the computer
system and is responsible for executing/processing the instructions on the
computer. Computers have some other processor or processing units, such as a
graphics processing unit, but the term processor simply means CPU. The CPU
is placed in a specific area on the mainboard (motherboard) of the computer,
which is called the CPU socket.
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