Processors

Processors

Edward Malick

Union College

Abstract

This paper explores the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer. It will explain the history of the processor. The original use of vacuum tubes to the use of integrated circuits. The paper will explain the CPU architecture and what the different parts of do. How the CPU fits into the mother board. It will also show what the different parts look like. There will be figure of the CPU architecture to grasp a greater understand of the CPU. It will examine what a parallel processor is and what makes them faster than single-core processors. Along with how they are connected and why they are important to the future of computing. There will be an examination of Intel vs. AMD. In the end this paper will have given a basic understanding of what a processor is, it’s future and it’s past.

The brain, it processes all the information we gather. What we smell, what we hear, it supported by the oxygen we breath. The processor or CPU is the brain of the computer, everything else is there to support it. This can be done through commands, power exchanges or responding to instructions from the CPU.

History

Before we look at today’s CPU let us look back at their history. Back in 1940’s they didn’t have microprocessors or transistors. The processor used vacuum tubes (fig 1.) and electrical relays. Because of this computer were large and expensive. The ENIAC, built by the University of Pennsylvania in 1945, is considered to be the ancestor to the modern computer, it weighed 30 tones and used 17,468 vacuum tubes.

In 1949 this would change when bell lab invented the first transistor (fig 2). It made the vacuum tube obsolete because it could do the same work with less energy at a lower cost. They would make this technology available to everyone in 1952.Then ain 1958 all transistor computers were available. In 1959, the first integrated circuit (fig 3) was created by jack Kirby while working for Texas industries.

Then...