CPU

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: 

All material and images on these pages are copyright Joseph,Ed. This page was developed for the Thinkquest1999 competition.