processadors

Processadors, in Catalan, refer to the central components of computer systems that execute instructions and control other hardware. They read program code from memory, perform arithmetic and logical operations, and coordinate with input/output and storage devices. The efficiency and capabilities of a processador influence overall system performance and responsiveness.

There are several kinds of processadors. General-purpose CPUs are designed to run a wide range of software and operating systems. GPUs specialize in parallel data processing, accelerating workloads such as graphics and matrix computations. DSPs handle real-time signal processing tasks. Microcontrollers are compact, low-power processors used in embedded devices. In modern devices, multiple processadors can be integrated on a single chip as part of a system on a chip (SoC), providing diverse computing functions in one package.

Architectureally, a processador is defined by its instruction set architecture (ISA), such as x86-64, ARM, or RISC-V. An ISA describes the set of operations the processor can perform and how software interacts with hardware. Contemporary CPUs use multiple cores, caches at various levels, and techniques like pipelining, superscalar execution, and simultaneous multithreading to improve throughput. Performance is assessed using metrics such as instruction per cycle (IPC), clock speed, and standardized benchmarks, while efficiency is influenced by power consumption and thermal design.

Manufacturing and design trends include shrinking process nodes, advanced packaging, and heterogenous architectures that combine CPUs with accelerators on the same device. The Catalan term processadors corresponds to the English word processor or CPU, reflecting linguistic differences in terminology. Processadors underpin a wide range of devices—from personal computers and servers to mobile devices and embedded systems—shaping how software is written and run.