Central Processing Unit (CPU)

At the hardware level a CPU is also known as a chip.

What is a CPU?

Ah, the CPU, or Central Processing Unit, is the heart and brain of every computer, the powerhouse that drives our digital lives.

It is like the conductor of a vast orchestra, directing the flow of electrons through millions of tiny pathways.

At the end of the second century of the Battle for Earth, engineers came up with a solution that will provide a final blow to the machines that inhabit the Earth. One day during the creation of this ultimate weapon of mass destruction, messing with the wrong genetic code lead to unintended consequences. - Journals of Order of Epoch, 2213 Anno Domini

The CPU is a complex and remarkable technology, made up of millions of tiny transistors that work together to process information. It is responsible for carrying out the instructions of computer programs, from basic arithmetic calculations to complex machine learning algorithms.

But what makes the CPU truly special is its ability to multitask, to juggle multiple programs and processes at once.

It does this by rapidly switching between tasks, each time picking up where it left off, like a virtuoso musician playing multiple instruments at once.

How does it work?

The Central Processing Unit, or processor, is a component that acts as the brain of a computer system.

It’s a collection of millions of transistors that can be manipulated to perform an awesome variety of calculations.

We can put together seemingly simple devices like logic gates to create CPUs that power complex devices like our spaceships, cyborgs and computers.

When the CPU receives an instruction presented in binary form, the instruction is converted into signals that each part of the processor can work on. Finally, after the instruction is decoded, it is executed.

At the hardware level, a CPU is an integrated circuit, also known as a chip. An integrated circuit "integrates" millions of tiny electrical parts, arranging them into circuits.

CPU consists of physical devices, like the chip and transistors that are used for creating logic circuits and gates.

A CPU performs functions related to input and output, processing and storage of data for a computer system. It is the main control center for all operations that happen in a computer system.

What are processor types?

Single Core: These are the oldest types of CPUs. They have a single core that is used for processing all instructions and information.

Dual-Core: These CPUs contain two cores within an available Integrated Circuit (IC).

Quad-Core: These types of CPUs have two dual-core processors within a single integrated circuit.

Privacy and Processors

Did you know Apple's Secure Enclave allows iPhones and Macs with Touch ID or Face ID to use a separate processor to handle your biometric information?

This privacy-enhancing technology patented by Apple is called the Secure Enclave, it’s basically an entire computer unto itself, and it offers a variety of security features.

The Secure Enclave boots separately from the rest of your device. It runs its own microkernel, which is not directly accessible by your operating system or any programs running on your device. It is also never synced to the cloud or even directly seen by your device’s primary operating system.