CPU

Control Unit

A control unit (CU) handles all processor control signals. It directs all input and output flow, fetches code for instructions from microprograms and directs other units and models by providing control and timing signals. A CU component is considered the processor brain because it issues orders to just about everything and ensures correct instruction execution.

Cores

A core is the processing unit which receives instructions and performs calculations, or actions, based on those instructions. A set of instructions can allow a software program perform a specific function.

Cache 1

A level 1 cache (L1 cache) is a memory cache that is directly built into the microprocessor, which is used for storing the microprocessor's recently accessed information, thus it is also called the primary cache. It is also referred to as the internal cache or system cache.

Cache 2

A level 2 cache (L2 cache) is a CPU cache memory that is located outside and separate from the microprocessor chip core, although, it is found on the same processor chip package. Earlier L2 cache designs placed them on the motherboard which made them quite slow.

Program Counter (PC)

A program counter is a register in a computer processor that contains the address (location) of the instruction being executed at the current time. As each instruction gets fetched, the program counter increases its stored value by 1. After each instruction is fetched, the program counter points to the next instruction in the sequence. When the computer restarts or is reset, the program counter normally reverts to 0.

Accumulator

An accumulator is a register for short-term, intermediate storage of arithmetic and logic data in a computer's CPU (central processing unit).

Arithmetic Logic Unit

An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) is a major component of the central processing unit of a computer system. It does all processes related to arithmetic and logic operations that need to be done on instruction words. In some microprocessor architectures, the ALU is divided into the arithmetic unit (AU) and the logic unit (LU).

Embedded Systems

An embedded system is a dedicated computer system designed for one or two specific functions. This system is embedded as a part of a complete device system that includes hardware, such as electrical and mechanical components. The embedded system is unlike the general-purpose computer, which is engineered to manage a wide range of processing tasks.

Clock Speed

Every CPU has a clock speed. This is the measurment of how many fetches and executes cycles happen every second. Modern CPUs are measured in GHz

CPU(Central Processing Unit)

Stands for central processing unit. It manages fetching instructions from memoryand then executing them

Memory Address Register (MAR)

The Memory Address Register (MAR) is CPU register that either stores the memory address from which data will be fetched to the CPU or the address to which data will be sent and stored.

Memory Data Register (MDR)

The Memory Data Register (MDR) is the register of a computer's control unit that contains the data to be stored in the computer storage (e.g. RAM), or the data after a fetch from the computer storage. It acts like a buffer and holds anything that is copied from the memory ready for the processor to use it.