Central Processing Unit Notable CPU Architectures

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central processing unit (CPU)

computer

software

control unit

execution unit

When every part of a CPU is on a single physical integrated circuit, it is called a microprocessor. Practically all CPUs manufacturered today are microprocessors.

The term CPU is often used vaguely to include other centrally important parts of a computer such as caches and input/output controllers, especially when those functions are on the same microprocessor chip as the CPU.

Manufacturers of desktop computers often erroneously describe the entire personal computer (the system unit or sometimes white box including the computer case and the computer hardware it contains) as the CPU. Rather, the CPU, as a functional unit, is that part of the computer which actually executes the instructions (add, subtract, shift, fetch, etc.).

A family of CPU designs is often referred to as a CPU architecture.

1 Notable CPU architectures

2 Emerging CPU architectures

Intel's IA-64 architecture (HP/Intel Itanium)
AMD's x86-64 architecture (AMD AMD64 and Intel EM64T)
IBM's Cell architecture (Sony/IBM Cell processor)

3 Historically important CPUs

EDSAC- the first practical stored-program computer
Apollo Guidance Computer, used in the moon flights
Emotion Engine- the heart of Sony's PlayStation 2

4 Types of CPUs

The above processor architectures could also be characterized by their CPU design like register size. Today most desktop computers and laser printers have 32-bit processors; 64-bit processors are being phased in. Smaller devices like mobile phones, PDAs, or portable video game devices may have 16 or 8-bit processors. Embedded systems such as microwave ovens, calculators, computer keyboards, and infrared remote controls typically have 8-bit or 4-bit processors. A future and somewhat controversial architecture being pushed by AMD and Intel is a dual-core processor.

6 External links

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Topics: Central Processing Unit, Notable CPU Architectures...

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