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Dec 27, 2025

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Understanding CPU Architecture: Key Features Explained

steph

@stephpearson_ntse

Your computer's CPU is like the brain of your machine,... Show more

# Questions:
1. What are the two memory
registers and what do they
do?
2. What holds the address
for the next instruction in
the main memory

CPU Architecture and Components

Ever wondered how your computer manages to run games, browse the web, and play music all at once? The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is your computer's mastermind, executing the fetch-decode-execute cycle billions of times per second - literally 4 billion times if you've got a 4GHz processor!

The CPU has three key components working together. The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) handles all your maths (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) plus comparisons (greater than, less than, equal to) and logical operations. The control unit acts like a traffic controller, managing the flow of data and deciding how instructions get executed. Finally, the cache is like a speed boost - it stores frequently used instructions so the CPU doesn't have to fetch them from slower main memory every time.

The Von Neumann architecture organises everything using special storage areas called registers. The Memory Address Register (MAR) holds the address of the next location the CPU needs to access in main memory. The Memory Data Register (MDR) stores the actual data that's been fetched from that memory location. The program counter keeps track of where the next instruction is located, whilst the accumulator stores results from calculations done by the ALU.

Quick Tip: Think of registers as the CPU's personal notepad - they provide lightning-fast temporary storage for the most important bits of information needed right now.

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Dec 27, 2025

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1 page

Understanding CPU Architecture: Key Features Explained

steph

@stephpearson_ntse

Your computer's CPU is like the brain of your machine, constantly working through billions of calculations every second. Understanding how it processes information through the fetch-decode-execute cycle will help you grasp how computers actually work behind the scenes.

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CPU Architecture and Components

Quick Tip: Think of registers as the CPU's personal notepad - they provide lightning-fast temporary storage for the most important bits of information needed right now.