1.1.1 architecture of the CPU

what is the purpose of the CPU?

the CPU processes data and instructions by following the fetch-decode-execute cycle

what are the main components of the CPU?

the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), Control Unit (CU), registers, cache

what is the function of the ALU?

it performs arithmetic calculations (addition, subtraction) and logical operations (AND, OR)

what does the CU do?

sends control signals to direct the operation of the CPU and decodes instructions as part of the FDE cycle

what are registers?

a temporary storage space for one instruction or address. they’re small amounts of high speed memory contained within the CPU

what is cache?

it temporarily stores data that’s frequently accessed

what is the purpose of the Program Counter?

it holds the address of the next instruction to be fetched

what is the purpose of the Memory Address Register?

it stores the address of the next instruction/data to be fetched or stored

what is the purpose of the Memory Data Register?

stores the data/instruction fetched from memory

what is the purpose of the accumulator?

where arithmetic and logic results are temporarily stored from the ALU

describe the fetch-decode-execute cycle

the CPU fetches the next instruction from memory. the address is then stored in the PC and loaded into the MDR. the instruction is decoded by the CU to understand the action required. the instruction is then executed by the CPU