Every computing device from simple toys to large business systems have an essential component called the central processing unit. The CPU performs calculations, makes logical comparisons and moves ...

I've been writing on CPU technology here at Ars for almost five years now, and during that time I've done my best to communicate computing concepts in as plain and accessible a manner as possible ...

Guest author Ken Shirriff is a Silicon Valley-based computer enthusiast who enjoys reverse-engineering old chips and restoring classic equipment such as the Xerox Alto. Shirriff wrote the Arduino ...

In my previous article, Understanding the Microprocessor, I gave a high-level overview of what a microprocessor is and how it functions. I talked about the kinds of tasks it performs and the different ...

What are the differences between Microcontroller and Microprocessor in both hardware and applications? Microcontroller and Processor are often times confused with each other, but they are different in ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Building your first computer is a memory worth cherishing for years, and the amount of research that goes into picking the right parts is what ...

The microprocessor (or 'processor', or 'CPU') is often called the brain of the computer, and for good reason. It's the backbone of any PC, smartphone, laptop, or tablet, performing billions of ...

ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) is the fundamental unit of a microprocessor which performs all the basic operations based on the control input selection. There are separate units which work independent of ...

The term "Bit Slicing" was once dominant in history books as a technique for constructing a processor from processor modules of smaller bit width where each of these components processes one field or ...