The form, design, and implementation of CPUs have changed over time, but their fundamental operation remains almost unchanged.
This contrasts with external components such as main memory and I/O circuitry, and specialized processors such as graphics processing units (GPUs). The CPU performs basic arithmetic, logic, controlling, and input/output (I/O) operations specified by the instructions in the program. Bottom side of an Intel 80486DX2, showing its pinsĪ central processing unit ( CPU), also called a central processor, main processor or just processor, is the electronic circuitry that executes instructions comprising a computer program.
