Arvutitöötlusüksus

Arvutitöötlusüksus, commonly known as the Central Processing Unit (CPU), is the primary component of a computer responsible for executing instructions. It acts as the brain of the computer, performing calculations, logical operations, and managing the flow of data. The CPU fetches instructions from memory, decodes them, and then executes them. This process is often referred to as the fetch-decode-execute cycle.

Modern CPUs are highly complex, containing millions or even billions of transistors on a single chip. They typically consist of several key parts, including the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) for performing mathematical and logical operations, and the control unit (CU) for managing the execution of instructions and coordinating the activities of other components. CPUs also feature cache memory, which is a small, fast memory located on the CPU itself, used to store frequently accessed data and instructions, thereby speeding up processing.

The performance of a CPU is generally measured by its clock speed, usually expressed in gigahertz (GHz), which indicates how many cycles the CPU can perform per second. Other important factors include the number of cores (multiple processing units on a single chip), which allows for parallel processing, and the architecture of the CPU, which affects its efficiency and capabilities. CPUs are manufactured by companies like Intel and AMD, and they are a fundamental part of almost all digital devices, from personal computers and smartphones to servers and embedded systems.