Hardware

Brain of the computer, executes or processes instructions and data in a computer system

• ALU (Arithmetic logic unit) • CU (Control unit) • Registers

• fetch-decode-execute cycle • The CPU is always working through instructions one after another as long as the computer is turned on. -Fetch → The CPU goes to memory and fetches the next instruction -Decode → The instruction is then decoded (understood) so the CPU knows what to do -Execute → The CPU then carries out that instruction (e.g., calculation, data transfer, decision) -Once finished, the CPU immediately fetches the next instruction and repeats the cycle

A computer design where a single memory holds both instructions and data - both are stored in RAM

• cpu • memory • buses

Instructions are stored in memory and executed sequentially (one after another in order) by the CPU Used in Von Neumann Architecture

• Transfers the actual data between RAM and CPU • bidirectional (goes in two directions)

• carries memory addresses of where data/instruction are stored • only from CPU to RAM, unidirectional

• sends control signals (read, write commands) to other components and also receives signals from them • bidirectional

• Independent processing units inside a CPU • More cores allow more tasks at once (parallel processing)

• Very fast memory inside the CPU that stores frequently used instructions and data • It is faster than RAM

It speeds up processing by reducing the time the CPU spends accessing data from RAM

determines how many instructions per second the CPU can process, measured in GHz

Higher clock speed = faster processing

carries out arithmetic operations (+,-,*,/) using things like binary shifts and logical operations (AND, OR XOR)

sends control signals to synchronise the execution of instruction and movement of data (manage flow of data and instructions)

Small, very fast memory locations inside the CPU that temporarily hold data, instructions, or addresses being used