The ongoing progress of computer technology is due largely to equally impressive developments in the manufacturing of central processing units, commonly called CPUs. Although available in various types, like 34-bit, quad-core, or Intel, all CPUs serve the same essential purpose: to implement specific instructions that enable a computer to function.
Definition
A CPU is an electronic circuit constructed to execute computer programs that allow a computer to perform numerous processes.
Function
Most CPUS quickly implement four successive processing directives: fetch (retrieve instructions), decode (translate instructions to relevant units of information), execute (perform operations), and writeback (store instruction steps in memory for faster future access).
Microprocessors
CPU advancement is directly related to the rapid evolution of microprocessors, which are tiny integrated circuits housed on a single die.
Development
Moore's Law, published in 1965, predicts that the number of transistors a microchip can hold will double approximately every two years, an accurate observation that explains the accelerated progress of CPU technology.
Considerations
While "CPU" and "microprocessor" are often used interchangeably, the terms aren't synonymous. Semiconductor company Intel Corporation introduced the first microprocessor, the Intel 4004, in 1971; yet, CPUs existed as early as 1961.
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