Computer Architecture and CPU Components

Front

What is the central processing unit (CPU)?

Back

Responsible for the execution or processing of all the instructions and data in a computer.

Front

What is an integrated circuit?

Back

Usually a chip made from a semiconductor material which carries out the same tasks as a larger circuit made from individual components.

Front

What is von Neumann architecture?

Back

A type of computer architecture which introduced the concept of the stored program in the 1940s.

Front

What does the Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU) do?

Back

It carries out all arithmetic and logical operations.

Front

What is an accumulator (ACC)?

Back

A temporary general-purpose register that stores numerical values at any part of a given operation.

Front

What is the memory address register (MAR)?

Back

A register that stores the address of the memory location currently being read from or written to.

Front

What is the current instruction register (CIR)?

Back

A register that stores the current instruction being decoded and executed.

Front

What does the memory data register (MDR) do?

Back

Stores data that has just been read from memory or data that is about to be written to memory.

Front

What is the program counter (PC)?

Back

A register that stores the address where the next instruction to be read can be found.

Front

What is the control unit in a CPU?

Back

The component that ensures synchronisation of data flow and programs throughout the computer by sending out control signals.