CPU Architecture for GCSE Students

Front

CPU

Back

Central Processing Unit, the brain of the computer

Front

ALU

Back

Arithmetic Logic Unit, performs calculations and logic operations

Front

CU

Back

Control Unit, directs operations of the processor

Front

Registers

Back

Small, fast storage locations within the CPU

Front

Cache

Back

High-speed storage for frequently accessed data

Front

Clock Speed

Back

Speed at which a CPU executes instructions, measured in GHz

Front

Cores

Back

Independent processing units within a CPU

Front

Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle

Back

Process by which a CPU retrieves, interprets, and executes instructions

Front

Bus

Back

Pathway for data transfer between components

Front

Von Neumann Architecture

Back

Design model for a stored-program computer