1.1.1 The CPU

What is the CPU

Central Processing Unit

What is the purpose of the CPU

To process data and instructions

To constantly perform the fetch-decode-excecute cycle.

Control Unit

Sends control signals to direct the CPU’s operation

Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)

Performs simple calculations and logical operations such as addition, subtraction, AND, OR operations.

Register

A temporary storage space for one instruction or address

Each has a specific purpose

Cache Memory

Used to temporarily store data that is frequently accessed.

Slower than registers but faster than RAM

What is a computer architecture?

The way a computer is designed and structured

What is the Von Neumann Architecture

A computer architecture that stored both program instructions and data in the same memory (RAM) and format (binary)

Key Components of the Von Neumann Architecture

Control Unit

ALU

Register

Cache memory