COMPUTER HARDWARE

FUNDAMENTAL
MODULE 03:
The Microprocessor and Memory

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The Microprocessor and Memory

• The Central Processing Unit

• Characteristics of a CPU
• Types of Processors
• CPU heat sinks and cooling fans
• Processor chips
• CPU voltage regulation
• Chip set

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The Microprocessor and Memory

• The CPU is responsible for all processing tasks.

• Reads and writes data and instructions to and
from storage devices.
• Performs calculations and data processing.
• Reads data received by input devices.
• Output is written to output devices.

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The Microprocessor and Memory

• Three basic components of a microprocessor:

• Control Unit (CU)
• Manages all activities inside the CPU.
• Directs the entire computer system to
carry out program instructions.
• Communicates with both the ALU and
MU

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The Microprocessor and Memory

• Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)

• Executes all arithmetic and logical
operations.

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The Microprocessor and Memory

• Memory Unit (MU)

• Manages data and instruction transfer
between the CPU and main memory.

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Characteristics of a CPU

• Processor Speed
• Speed at which the CPU operates internally.
• Current processor speeds are measured in
the Gigahertz (GHz) or billions of cycles per
second.
• Speed of an internal clock that synchronizes
the operations inside the CPU.
• Average speed for a new CPU today is
3GHz.
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Characteristics of a CPU

• Bus speed
• Frequency or speed at which data moves
on a bus.
• System clock synchronizes data transfer into
and out of the CPU on a system bus.
• One signal path can carry one bit of
information at a time.

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Characteristics of a CPU

• Common speeds for system bus are:

• 555MHz
• 667MHz
• 800MHz
• 1066MHz
• 1333MHz
• 1600MHz

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Characteristics of a CPU

• System bus speeds for older CPUs are:

• 100MHz
• 133MHz
• 200MHz

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Characteristics of a CPU

• Word size and data path size

• Word size
• Largest number of bits that can be
carried on the internal data bus, and that
the CPU can process in one operation.
• Ranges from 16bits to 64bits.

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Characteristics of a CPU

• Data path size

• The largest number of bits that can be
transported to and from the CPU on the
system bus.
• Word size of a CPU is not necessarily as
large as the data path size.
• Some CPUs can receive more bits than they
can process at.

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Characteristics of a CPU

• Instruction Sets
• The set of commands permanently built
into the CPU chip, for performing
fundamental operations such as comparing
or adding two numbers.

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Characteristics of a CPU

• Types of instruction sets

• CISC
• Complex Instruction Set Computers
• Larger instruction sets composed of
complex instructions.
• Take longer in executing instructions
since instructions are generally complex.

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Characteristics of a CPU

• RISC
• Reduced Instruction Set Computers
• Have fewer and simpler instructions.
• Each instruction runs more quickly.
• Require more instructions to perform
complex operations.

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Characteristics of a CPU

• Memory cache
• A small set of high-speed memory used to
hold copies of the portions of the larger but
slower main memory.
• Either 2 or 3 levels of memory cache in a
CPU depending on where it is located

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Characteristics of a CPU

• Cache Levels
• Level 1 (L1) – located in the CPU chip
• Level 2 (L2) – located in the motherboard
• Level 3 (L3) – additional cache memory
intended for server systems.

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Characteristics of a CPU

• Multiprocessing
• Also known as parallel processing.
• Microchips are designed to work in
cooperation with other CPUs installed on
the same motherboard allowing them to do
more than one thing at a time.
• Makes a program run faster because there
are more CPUs processing it.

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Types of Processors

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Types of Processors

• Intel Processors
• Most widely used CPU in personal
computers.
• Early CPUs by Intel were identified by
model numbers: 8088, 8086, 80286, 80386,
and 80486.

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Types of Processors

• Celeron
• Pentium-class processor that targets the
low-end PC multimedia and home
market segments.
• Uses advanced transfer cache for L2
cache and works well with the most
common windows applications.

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Types of Processors
• Pentium III
• Has a 100MHz or 133 MHz system bus with
a processor speed up to 1.4GHz.
• Introduced Intel’s performance
enhancement called Streaming SIMD (SSE).
• SIMD stands for single instruction,
multiple data. Better multimedia
processing.

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Types of Processors

• Pentium 4
• Can rum up to 3.2. GHz.
• Provides increased performance for
multimedia applications such as digital
video and web technologies.
• Uses 400, 533 or 800 MHz system bus.
• Provides increased efficiency in creating
digital files and faster graphics.
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Types of Processors

• Core
• Intel’s 32 bit dual-core x86 CPUs derived
from Pentium M processors.
• More power efficient than Pentium
models.

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Types of Processors

• In mid-2006, Intel introduced the 64-bit

Core 2 Duo models for both desktops
and laptops together with an extreme
model for high-end workstations.
• Current lineup of Core processors in the
market includes Intel Core i3, Intel Core
i5, and the latest which is the Intel Core
i7.

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Types of Processors
Processor Speed L1 Cache L2 Cache L3 Cache System Bus

Celeron 2.8GHz 32KB 256KB None 400MHz

Pentium III 1.33GHz 32KB 2MB None 133MHz

Pentium IV 3.2GHz 1MB 2MB None 133MHz

Dual Core / 2.6GHz 2MB 2MB None 1.33GHz

Core 2 Duo
Core i3 3.2GHz 2x256KB 3MB 2.5GT/s

Core i5 3.46GHz 4x256KB 8MB 2.5GT/s

Core i7 3.6GHz 4x256KB 8MB 2.5GT/s

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Types of Processors

• Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and VIA

Processors.
• Popular in the game and hobbyist
markets.
• Designed or notebook computes
generally less expensive then
comparable Intel processors.

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Types of Processors
Processor Speed System Bus Speeds

AMD K6 450MHz 100MHz

Duron 1.3GHz 200MHz

Athlon 1.9GHz 200MHz

Athlon Model 4 1.4GHz 266MHz

Athlon MP 2.1GHz 400MHz

Athlon XP 2.2GHz 400MHz

Sempron 2.2GHz 200MHz

Opteron 3.2GHz 1GHz

Turion 64 2.2GHz 800MHz

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Types of Processors
Processor Speed System Bus Speeds

Cyrix III 533MHz 133MHz

C3 1.4GHz 133MHz

C7 2.0GHz 533MHz

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CPU Heat Sinks and Cooling Fans

• Cooling Fan
• Keep temperatures between 32 degree
Celsius to 43 degrees Celcius.
• Gets power via a power connector on
the motherboard or one of the power
cables coming from the power supply.

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CPU Heat Sinks and Cooling Fans

• Heat Sink
• Absorbs the heat from the CPU while the
fan blows off the heat.

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