CPUs reside inside all the devices you own, from smartphones to thermostats. They are responsible for processing and executing instructions that turn data input into useful information output. They do all the main functions of a computer, including arithmetic and logic operations.
A Cpu’s job is to carry out instructions sequentially, one at a time. Each instruction is sent to the CPU by the operating system as binary numbers. Once the CPU fetches an instruction from memory, it begins decoding it using the help of arithmetic logic unit circuitry. The resulting signals tell the CPU what to do with the data and where to store the results in memory.
The CPU has four types of registers: control, status, general-purpose, and floating-point registers. Each of these registers has different purposes and sizes. The CPU also has caches, which are on-chip memories that are designed to speed up the process of retrieving data from memory by storing it in faster-accessing locations within the chip.
In general, a CPU is a synchronous circuit that uses a clock signal to pace its sequential operation. This is the same type of technology that you might see in a digital watch or a car’s engine.
While CPUs are capable of carrying out many kinds of calculations, they are not well-suited for performing repetitive tasks. This is where a GPU comes in to help out. A GPU can complete many more small calculations in parallel than a CPU.