Chapter 3‐ processors - connor0329/repository-1 GitHub Wiki

Processor Overview: Processor- determines, to a great extent, the power of the computer • The Processor is also called the CPU (central processing unit) or microprocessor • Processor executes instructions, performs calculations, and coordinates input/output operations • The big processor manufactures today are Intel, Motorola, VIA, Samsung, NVIDIA, Apple, Qualcomm, and AMD

Processor Basics:

Bus- To move the 1s and 0s around, electric lines called a, bus is used • Processors operate on 1s and 0s • The 1s and 0s must travel from one to another inside the processor, as well as outside to other chips

Internal bus system- The electronic lines used inside the CPU are known as the internal bus system or system bus. • In today’s processors 64 or 128 internal data bus lines operate concurrently

External data bus- For a CPU to communicate with devices in the outside world, such as a printer, the 1s and 0s travel on the external data bus • An external data bus is also known as an external data path • Connects the processors to adapters, the keyboard, the mouse, the hard drive, and other devices • Today’s processors have 64-bit and 128-bit external data paths

ALU- a processor has a special component called the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), which does all of the calculations and comparison logic that a computer needs • ALU connects to the register, control unit, and external bus

Pipelines- processors have multiple pipelines (separate internal buses) that operate simultaneously • You can speed up the processor by: o Increasing the CPU clock speed o Changing the structure of the CPU pipeline, EX: instead of performing 5 tasks the CPU might 6,7,14,20 or even more steps o Having multiple pipelines • A 32-bit or 64-bit CPU can have separate paths (each of which handles 32- or 64-bit), EX: if a processor has two pipelines a letter can be in one pipeline, while a phot upload using a different application can be in the other pipeline

Cache Cache Memory- a very fast type of memory designed to increase the speed of processor operation • CPU efficiency is increased when data continuously flows through the CPU and cache provides the fastest access • If the information is not in cache, the processor looks for data in the motherboard RAM. If the information is not in RAM, it is retrieved from the hard drive and placed into the motherboard memory or cache. (hard drive access is the slowest of the three (3), Ram second (2), and cache is the fastest (1) ) Types of Cache: o L1 cache- cache memory integrated into the processor o L2 cache- cache in the processor packaging, but not part of the CPU; also called on-die cache o L3 cache- usually found in the more powerful processors and can be located in the CPU housing (on-die) or on the motherboard • Usually the more cache memory a system has, the better that system performs (not always true)

Clocking Clock signal- the motherboard generates a clock signal that is used to control the transfer of 1s and 0s from the processor • One clock cycle is from one point on the sine wave to the next point that is located on the same point on the sine wave later in time • Today data is sent four times during a single clock cycle

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) GPU- related to graphics that increase system performance • GPU Can be a bottleneck for computer performance if not quality or up to date • Intel and AMD have a GPU within the CPU on some of their processor models • With an integrated GPU (iGPU) an external video card with a GPU is not required, and graphical data is processed quickly, with reduced power consumption. • GPUs contain hundreds of smaller core processers • GPUs can be used for other purposes not directly related to graphic increasing system performance, EX: General Purpose GPU (GPGPU) • A computer system can have multiple GPUs

Processor Cooling • Keeping the CPU cool is critical Processor cooling methods: • Heatsink • Fan • Thermal paste or thermal pad • Liquid cooling • Phase-change cooling (vapor cooling) • Heat pipe • Passive cooling Heat sink and fan • the largest chip on the motherboard with a fan or a heatsink attached to it is easily recognized as the processor • additional motherboard components can also have heatsinks attached, EX: the chipset and/or the I/0 (input/output) controller chips

Chipset Chipset- the principal chips on the motherboard that work in conjunction with the processor are known as chipsets • chipsets control the maximum amount of motherboard memory, the type of RAM chips, the motherboards capacity for two or more CPUs, and whether the motherboard supports the latest version of PCIe • chipset manufactures include Intel, VIA, ATI technologies, Silicone Integrated Systems (SiS), AMD, and NVIDIA corporation • usually, a chipset goes with a particular processor and determines which memory chips a motherboard can have (chipsets determine a lot about what a motherboard can allow or support) • the chipset coordinates traffic to and from motherboard components and the CPU

Memory controller hub (MCH)- this important chip sometimes called the north bridge connects directly to older CPUs. Whereas now on motherboards that have a newer CPU the MCH would be incorporated into the CPU I/O controller hub (ICH)- The ICH also known as the south bridge, is a chip that controls what features, ports and interfaces the motherboard supports