The CPU, or Central Processing Unit, is the primary hardware component of a computer responsible for interpreting and executing most of the commands from the computer's other hardware and software.
A CPU, commonly referred to as a processor, is the brain of the computer where most calculations take place. It carries out the instructions of a computer program by performing basic arithmetic, logical, control, and input/output (I/O) operations specified by the instructions. The CPU has several core components, including the arithmetic logic unit (ALU), which performs arithmetic and logical operations, and the control unit (CU), which extracts instructions from memory and decodes and executes them.
Modern CPUs are typically multi-core, meaning they have multiple processing units in one chip, allowing for enhanced performance through parallel processing. The speed at which a CPU processes information is measured in hertz (Hz), with modern processors often operating in the gigahertz (GHz) range.
While CPUs are versatile and capable of handling a wide variety of tasks, other processors like GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) are specialized for tasks requiring parallel processing, such as graphics rendering and machine learning algorithms. In many systems, CPUs work in conjunction with these other types of processors to optimize overall performance.
In the context of AI and cloud computing, CPUs often manage system-level operations and coordinate with GPUs or TPUs (Tensor Processing Units) dedicated to specific high-intensity tasks. This division of labor allows for efficient resource management and application performance within complex computational ecosystems.