CPU

Early electronic computers consisted of CPU units that included switches, electromechanical relays, and vacuum tubes. Current generation microprocessors, used in today’s gadgets are significant leaps in complexity, with billions of miniature switches crammed into a single piece of silicon. Being the most active component and performing arithmetic and logical operations together with comparison, the CPU works with almost all the other sub-systems of any computer and controls the peripherals as well as helps in multitasking. A CPU is measured in clock speed and instructions per clock; the higher the number of instruction processing and the faster clock speed the higher the performance. Recent developments enable contemporary microprocessors to adjust the clock rate, current consumption and heat production to achieve high performance and power economy.