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Nt1310 Central Processing Unit

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Central Processing Unit

The CPU or Central Processing Unit, is essentially the brain of any computer since the CPU was refined to the microprocessor we see today. It works together with every other part of a computer, who themselves cannot work individually. Although The CPU may look much like an expensive computer chip at first glance, it is an intricately designed piece of hardware with cache memory of varying sizes, and cores of varying speeds. This is where calculations from simple arithmetic to global simulations take place. In conclusion, with how far CPUs have come from their humble origins, to the never ending stream of tasks of today, this is a vital component that shouldn’t be overlooked or underestimated.

Moore’s law states that …show more content…

More cache means better performance, so modern processors are always looking for new and innovative ways to add more cache to a single die. Furthermore, cache is such an important feature that due to the expense of making it, most caches are divided into 3 levels of varying speeds and sizes. The highest capacity, but slowest in performance is the L3 cache, originally on the motherboard itself, it is now integrated into the processor and generally shared between all cores (Labsim). The next level is the L2 cache, faster than L3, but smaller in size. The L2 cache is located on the processor and usually has multiple of this cache for either private, per core cache, or only shared between a select few cores. The final and fastest of the caches is the L1 cache, but smallest in size of all the others. L1 is located on the processor and private to every core for quick access of small amounts of vital information …show more content…

The evolution of the processor has come all the way from the Intel 4004 to the processors of today and one would expect Moore’s law to continue to allow exponentially more powerful processors from here on out. Moore’s law will continue, but in a way of overall speed instead of transistors. Modern processors being so fast they produce too much heat to effectively cool, leading to CPU developers needing to design new cooling systems or a new way of making transistors entirely. Another hurdle for CPU developers is that as the transistors become smaller and smaller, quantum tunneling takes place, and a semiconductor becomes just a conductor, allowing power all of the time. A possible solution being quantum computing.Quantum computing involves the bits used in storing data being individual atoms. It’s theorized that such computing techniques could be used to simulate complex chemical processes and increase the accuracy of atomic clocks. We’ve seen where CPUs have come from, we’ve seen where they are, now we have the chance to see where they will go, and the extraordinary heights they will

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