The Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) What exactly is a CPU? If you opened up a Mainframe or a Supercomputer the answer you would get could surprise you. These machines hav lots of printed circuit boardsheld in framed cases and connected by endless metres of cables to form their CPUs. Looking into a PC is much simpler - you can find an identifiable chip as the CPU. Another surprise is that, for all their physical differences …

…machine language: Load A, Add B, Store X Suppose this section is saved in the following memory addresses: <Tab/><Tab/><Tab/><Tab/><Tab/><Tab/><Tab/> 110 Load A 111 Add B 112 Store X . . . . . . . . . 220<Tab/>3 (value of A) 221<Tab/> 2 (value of B)