Glossary
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
What is CPU?
The CPU is the fundamental computer component that is responsible for interpreting and executing most of the commands from the computer’s other hardware and software. Modern CPUs consist of billions of transistors, which function as gates that open and close to create the binary instructions that make up the programmes that are executed on the CPU.
Many electronic devices use a CPU of some sort, from high-performance CPUs in desktop computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches and televisions, to lower-power CPUs in devices such as thermostats or toys.
The future potential of CPU
“CPUs are currently used in all walks of life, ranging from smartphones all the way up to cloud computing.
The future is going to fulfil the ever-increasing compute requirements that are being imposed by the technological advances required to scale the current solutions. CPUs will focus on providing this in the future with various architecture solutions that are being explored, like chiplets and heterogeneous architecture.”
Naresh Menon, Director of Product Management, CPU
