The CPU
Exploring the Computer
CPU : Basic Info
The CPU is like the computer's brain - without it, no PC can work.
CPU stands for "Central Processing Unit". The CPU is a microchip that is installed on the motherboard. It performs the computer's calculations and coordinates the hardware components.
The speed of the CPU is measured in Hertz which is the number of cycles per second that the CPU runs at. During each cycle, one instruction can be processed. The faster the speed of the CPU, the more instructions can be processed in a given period of time.
Below is a picture of a CPU in a computer case.