Computer hardware: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:42, 18 August 2025

Revision as of 13:50, 18 August 2025

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Components directly attached to or to part of the motherboard include:

* At least one [[central processing unit|CPU]] (central processing unit), which performs mostthe majority of thecomputational calculationstasks thatrequired enablefor a computer to functionoperate.{{sfn|Wang|2021|p=8}} ItOften can bedescribed informally referred to as the "brain" of the computer.,{{sfn|Wang|2021|p=9}} Itthe CPU takesfetches program instructions from [[random-access memory]] (RAM), interpretsdecodes and processesexecutes them and, then sends backreturns results sofor thatfurther theprocessing relevantby other components. canThis carryprocess outis theknown instructions.as The CPU is athe [[microprocessorinstruction cycle]],. whichModern isCPUs are [[semiconductor device fabrication|fabricatedmicroprocessor]]s fabricated on a [[metal–oxide–semiconductor]] (MOS) [[integrated circuit]] (IC) chip.using Itadvanced is[[semiconductor device fabrication]] techniques, often usuallyemploying [[CPU cooling|cooledphotolithography]]. byThey are typically cooled using a [[heatsink]] and [[computer fan,|fan]] or watera [[liquid cooling|liquid-cooling system]]. Many newercontemporary CPUs includeintegrate an on-die [[graphics processing unit]] (GPU). The [[clockintegrated speedgraphics|GPU]]), ofeliminating the CPUneed governsfor howa fastdiscrete itGPU executesin instructionsbasic andsystems. CPU performance is measuredinfluenced by clock speed—measured in gigahertz (GHz;)—with typicalcommon valuesconsumer lieprocessors betweenranging from 1 GHz andto 5 GHz.{{cn|date=August 2024}} ThereAdditionally, there is alsoa an increasinggrowing trend totoward add[[multi-core moreprocessor|multi-core coresdesigns]], towhere amultiple processor—withprocessing eachcores actingare asincluded ifon ita weresingle anchip, independentenabling processor—forgreater increased[[parallel computing|parallelism]] and improved multitasking performance.{{sfn|Wang|2021|p=9}}

*The internal bus connects the CPU to the main memory with several lines for simultaneous communication—typically 50 to 100—which are separated into those for addressing or memory, data, and command or control.{{sfn|Wang|2021|p=75}} Although parallel buses used to be more common, serial buses with a [[serializer]] to send more information over the same wire have become more common in the twenty-first century.{{sfn|Wang|2021|p=78}} Computers with multiple processors will need an interconnection bus, usually managed by a [[Northbridge (computing)|northbridge]], while the [[Southbridge (computing)|southbridge]] manages communication with slower peripheral and I/O devices.{{sfn|Wang|2021|p=90}}

*[[Random-access memory]] (RAM), which stores the code and data that are being actively accessed by the CPU in a hierarchy based on when it is expected to be next used. [[Processor register|Register]]s are closest to the CPU but have very limited capacity.{{sfn|Wang|2021|p=47}} CPUs also typically have multiple areas of [[cache memory]] that have much more capacity than registers, but much less than main memory; they are slower to access than registers, but much faster than main memory.{{sfn|Wang|2021|pp=49-50}} Caching works by prefetching data before the CPU needs it, reducing latency.{{sfn|Wang|2021|pp=49-50}}{{sfn|Hennessy |Patterson|2011|p=45}} If the data the CPU needs is not in the cache, it can be accessed from main memory.{{sfn|Wang|2021|pp=49-50}} [[Cache memory]] is typically [[Static random-access memory|SRAM]], while the main memory is typically [[DRAM]].{{sfn|Wang|2021|p=3}} RAM is volatile, meaning its contents will disappear if the computer powers down.{{sfn|Wang|2021|p=54}}