CPU

This is a Pentium II Processor.
It is the almighty "God" of the computer. It is the core of all processes.
Get my point? Once again, I am trying to explain the importance of this
piece of the computer. Yes, I know I said the same about the motherboard,
but this is in the same boat. There are certain objects in the computer
(like the CPU) that you just have to have. In order for the computer to
function at all, it has to have a processor. The processor serves as the
logic in the computer, and the motherboard is the brain. Now, let’s get
down to the small details.
The terms CPU, Central Processing Unit, and microprocessor are all synonymous.
Today, the most commonly spoken term is processor (an abbreviation of microprocessor).
The CPU is a square or rectangle "chip" that is composed of millions of
transistors that are arranged in the Pin Grid Array (PGA) format. Prior
to 1981, CPUs were standardized as a rectangular chip with 2 rows of 20
pins, commonly known as the dual inline package (DIP).
The race for the "fastest" machine has left Intel to emerge as the market
leader in the production of microprocessors. Following close behind are
other industrial giants such as Motorola, Advanced Micro Device (AMD),
Cyrix, and IBM. If you are interested in the fine details of these companies,
you may visit their websites at:
Intel - http://www.intel.com
Motorola - http://www.motorola.com
AMD - http://www.amd.com
Cyrix - http://www.cyrix.com
IBM - http://www.ibm.com
Interested in the development of computers over time? Want to predict the
speeds of future computers? Visit the Graph
Predictor in the Java section.
Well, there is more to a processor than you would think. The processor
is composed of the following components: math coprocessor,
clock
speed, internal cache memory, and the bus
(external or system, data,
and address).