Dictionary · Certification Terminology
CPU
CPU — Central Processing Unit
Hardware · Beginner
The chip that executes instructions for programs. Core count, clock speed, and cache affect how much work it can do at once.
It is the part that does the calculating. More cores help with many tasks at once. A high clock helps a single task. It is not the same component as memory or storage.
Example: A laptop with eight cores can compile code while a browser and a video call stay responsive.
Common misconception
- A faster clock does not fix a shortage of memory. The computer may be waiting on something other than this chip.