CPU

(noun)

The main computer case containing the central components of a personal computer.

Related Terms

Examples of CPU in the following topics:

  • Hardware and Software Improvements

    • The 21st century has seen the rise of multi-core CPUs.
    • Fiber-optic and photonic devices, which already have been used to transport data over long distances, are now entering the data center—side by side with CPU and semiconductor memory components.
    • This allows the separation of RAM from CPU by optical interconnects.

  • Introduction

    • Information processing (IP) is a cognitive processing theory (see, Ashcraft, 1994).While other theories in this e-book are learning or instructional in nature, IP theory seeks to explain how the mind functions.Learning components such as rehearsal and elaboration are associated with IP; however, most emphasis is placed on understanding how information is processed rather than how learning happens.Another aspect of this theory is that it is explicitly analogous to a computer's processor.The basic IP model has three components: sensory register (SR), short-term memory (STM) or working memory, and long-term memory (LTM).The corresponding components of the computer are input devices or registers, the CPU, and hard drive storage, respectively.This metaphor is superficially valid, but as it is taken to its limits, the mechanical comparison breaks down.However, knowing that this model is a cognitive processing model and knowing that the model is based on an explicit metaphor with a computer is helpful in understanding IP theory.Let's start with the model and an example.As I write this, I see my cup on my desk.Let's follow this image through the system.The model is depicted below and shows the cup being processed.In the narrative that follows, I will refer back to this cup as it is being cognitively processed.

  • Aluminum

  • Avoiding Slang and Jargon

    • As an example, the words RAM, bit, byte, CPU, HDD, and hexadecimal are jargon terms related to computing.

  • Productivity Gains from Hardware

    • Hardware advancements, such as the CPU, greatly increased productivity for many areas of society.

  • Status-Quo Pricing of Existing Products

    • ., CPU and PCs).

  • Free Version Control Systems

    • Mercurial is a distributed version control system that offers, among other things, "complete cross-indexing of files and changesets; bandwidth and CPU efficient HTTP and SSH sync protocols; arbitrary merging between developer branches; integrated stand-alone web interface; [portability to] UNIX, MacOS X, and Windows" and more (the preceding feature list was paraphrased from the Mercurial web site).