CPU Components & Their Function (AQA GCSE Computer Science)
Revision Note
Written by: Robert Hampton
Reviewed by: James Woodhouse
CPU Components & Their Function
What is the Von Neumann architecture?
The Von Neumann Architecture is a design of the CPU which was proposed by Mathematician John Von Neumann in the 1940s, which most general-purpose computers are built upon
The Von Neumann Architecture outlines how the computer memory, input / output devices and processor all work together
What are the components of the CPU?
The CPU is made up of 5 key components
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
Control Unit (CU)
Clock
Registers
Bus
Each of the components sits within the CPU
What is the function of each component?
Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
Performs arithmetic operations
Performs logical decisions
IF X > 5 THEN
DO ……….
Control unit (CU)
Coordinates how data moves around the CPU by sending a signal to control the movement of the data
Decodes the instructions fetched from memory
Clock
Keeps related components in sync by generating pulses at a constant rate
Registers
Extremely small, extremely fast memory located in the CPU
Hold small amounts of data needed as part of the fetch-execute cycle
Each register has its own specific purpose
Accumulator (ACC) - stores results of logical or arithmetic calculations carried out by the ALU
Memory address register (MAR) - stores the address of the next instruction to be fetched from RAM
Memory data register (MDR) - stores the data retrieved from RAM
Program counter (PC) - stores the memory address of the next instructions to be executed & Increments by 1 as the fetch-decode-execute cycle runs
Bus
A bus is a collection of wires through which data/signals are transmitted from one component to another
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