CPU (Central Processing Unit)
- Arithmetic Logic Unit + Control Unit
- Used so frequently together
- Make up the CPU
- Made from small silicon chips with millions of transistors
- n-bit processor
- n refers to number of bits in the CPU general registers
- Two n-bit numbers can be added with a single instruction
- Can also refer to the width of the address bus
- Is the size of addressable memory, but not always
- Can also refer to the width of the data bus
- Electronics of the CPU inherently recognize binary representations of commands
- Doesn't need to consult a list of commands
- CPU embodies the list in its design
- Each CPU has its own machine language
- Has a clock which emits regular pulses
Computer Science Computer Hardware von Neumann Architecture