ADVCOMT REVIEWER Week 2 - Development of Multicore Computer System

• Also Known as “CPU”

• The Brain of the Computer

• Central Processing Unit that performs arithmetic and logical operation (ALU).

The Processor

The Mother of all x86 CPUs

• The 8086 processor from intel

• Clocked at a Frequency of 4.77 MHz

Central Processing Unit

Acronym for CPU?

The CPU

Complex Silicon Chip Responsible for Interpreting and Executing most of the commands from your computer’s hardware and software

What are the Core Components in a Processor

• Control Unit (CU)

• Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

• Registers

• Cache

The "conductor" of the processor. It directs the flow of data and tells the rest of the CPU how to respond to program instructions.

Control Unit (CU)

The "calculator." It performs all mathematical (addition, subtraction) and logical (AND, OR, NOT) operations.

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

Extremely fast, small storage locations used to hold data the CPU is currently working on.

Registers

A small pool of high-speed memory that stores frequently used data, so the processor doesn't have to wait for the slower RAM.

Cache

A processor performs its job by repeating a specific cycle billions of times per second.

Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle

The CPU retrieves an instruction (in the form of binary code) from the system's RAM.

Fetch

The Control Unit breaks down the instruction to understand what needs to be done (e.g., "Add these two numbers").

Decode

The ALU or another functional unit carries out the command.

Execute

(Writeback): The result is saved back into a register or the main memory for later use.

Store

Measured in Gigahertz (GHz), this is the number of cycles a CPU performs per second, A 4,0 GHz CPU performs 4 billion cycles per second.

Clock Speed

Physical processing Units within a single chip. Multi - core processors can handle different tasks simultaneously (parallel processing)

Cores

Virtual cores that allow a single physical core to work on two tasks at once (Hyper-Threading or SMT).

Threads

The Design Philosophy of the chip, such as x86 (High Performance, used by Intel/AMD) or ARM (High efficiency, used in smartphones and Apple Silicon).

Architecture

Why is the computing industry (Apple, Qualcomm, AWS) shifting from x86 to ARM-based architectures in 2026?

Because ARM offers superior performance-per-watt.

• ARM uses RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing).

• x86 uses CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing).

What is the specific function of a dedicated NPU in a modern processor?

It is designed to accelerate AI tasks, such as:

• Large Language Models (LLMs)

• Image generation

• Other complex machine learning workloads.

Why ARM is Winning (2026 Trends)

• Incredible Battery Life

• System on a Chip (SoC) Design

• Thermal Efficiency

Why can ARM-based laptops (e.g., MacBook M-series) achieve 20+ hours of battery life?

Because ARM instructions are simple, the processor does not have to work as hard or generate as much heat to perform tasks.

hat is the primary advantage of the System on a Chip (SoC) design used by ARM?

It places the CPU, GPU, RAM, and NPU on a single piece of silicon. This "all-in-one" layout allows data to move between components almost instantly.

How does ARM’s thermal efficiency change the physical design of modern laptops?

Because these chips require significantly less cooling, many laptops can be built without internal fans, making them completely silent.

Defined as being a system, which has more than two CPUs working together on the system same chip.

Multicore Computer System

• An Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 dual-core processor. (mid-2007)

• An AMD Athlon X2 6400+ dual-core processor. (released 2005-2007)

1st Generation Multi-core processors

This type of processor can function as efficiently as a single processor but can perform operations up to twice as quickly Because each core has its own cache, the operating system is able to handle most tasks in parallel

Dual Core Processor

This type of processors integrates two dual-core processors within a single processor. The two separate dual cores communicate with each other using processor cache.

Quad Core Processor

This type of processor is an advanced CPU with six different cores. These six distinct cores are utilized to execute and send all data. Hexa Core CPU performs tasks faster and with better efficiency than dual-core(2-core) and quad-core(4-core) processors.

Hexa-core Processor

This type of processor is a computer processor (CPU) with eight cores. Each core is its own processing unit, theoretically allowing the processor to multitask by splitting up computational tasks between the 8 processors.

Octa - Core Processor

What are the Components of a Computer System?

1. System Case

2. Power Supply Unit (PSU)

3. Motherboard

4. Central Processing Unit (CPU)

5. Memory

6. Video Card Adapter

7. Network Interface Card (NIC)

8. Sound Card

9. USB (Universal Serial Bus) Expansion Card

10. Serial ATA or SATA

11. Hard Disk

12. Optical Disc Drive (Optional Legacy Component)

Sometimes called the chassis or enclosure, is the metal and plastic box that houses the main components of the computer.

System Case

Is the component that supplies power to the other components in a computer.

Power Supply Unit (PSU)

Is the central printed circuit board (PCB)in computers and many modern holds many of the crucial components of the system, while providing connectors for other peripherals.

Motherboard (main system board)

Is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, and is the primary element carrying out the computer’s functions.

Central Processing Unit (CPU) or Processor

Refers to devices that are used to store data or programs (sequences of instructions) on a temporary or permanent basis for use in an electronic digital computer

Computer Memory

It’s an expansion card whose function is to generate and output images to a display

Video Card Adapter

It’s a computer hardware component designed to allow computers to communicate over a computer network

Network Interface Card (NIC)

Expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs.

Sound Card

Is a specification to establish communication between devices and a host controller (usually personal computers).

USB (Universal Serial Bus) Expansion Card

Is a storage-interface for connecting host bus adapters to mass storage devices such as hard disk drives and optical drives.

Serial ATA,or SATA

It’s a non-volatile storage device that stores digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating platters with magnetic surfaces.

Hard Disk Drive

Some discs, drives can but recent drives commonly both readers only read from are and recorders.

Recorders are sometimes called burners or writers. Compact discs, DVDs, HD DVD sand Blu ray discs are common types of optical media which can be read and recorded by such drives.

Optical Disc Drive (optional legacy component)

Chipsets found in a motherboard

Northbridge

Southbridge

Is an integrated circuit responsible for communications between the CPU (Central Processing Unit) interface, AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port), and the memory.

Northbridge

Is an IC (Integrated Circuit) on the motherboard responsible for the hard drive controller, I/O controller and integrated hardware.

South Bridge

Parts of a Hard Disk Drive

1. Air Filter

2. Platter

3. Spindle

4. Actuator

5. Actuator pivot

6. Actuator arm

7. Read/Write Heads