mikroprotsessori

Mikroprotsessori, often shortened to microprocessor, is a central processing unit (CPU) on a single integrated circuit (IC) or a few ICs. It contains the logic circuitry for the arithmetic, logic, and control units of a computer. Microprocessors are the brains of most modern electronic devices, from personal computers and smartphones to cars and industrial equipment.

The development of the microprocessor began in the early 1970s with the invention of the Intel 4004 in 1971. This marked a significant shift from earlier, larger, multi-chip CPUs to a more compact and cost-effective solution. Subsequent generations of microprocessors have seen exponential increases in processing power, speed, and efficiency, often following Moore's Law, which predicts the doubling of transistors on an IC approximately every two years.

Key components of a microprocessor include the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) for performing calculations, the control unit (CU) for managing instruction execution, and registers for temporary data storage. Microprocessors are designed using complex architectures, with advancements like pipelining, superscalar execution, and multi-core designs enabling them to perform multiple operations simultaneously. The instruction set architecture (ISA) defines the commands a microprocessor can understand and execute, with common ISAs including x86 and ARM. The performance of a microprocessor is often measured in clock speed (GHz) and the number of cores.