A complex digital chip that houses the arithmetic logic unit, control circuitry, and registers necessary to execute software instructions. It serves as the brain of a computer system, fetching data from external memory, performing mathematical and logical operations, and directing the flow of information to external peripherals.
The board design routes the high-speed data bus directly from the microprocessor to the memory bank to minimize latency.
Also heard as
- MPU
- processor
Related terms
Central processing unit
The primary silicon processor responsible for fetching, decoding, and executing instructions in a computer system.
Arithmetic logic unit
The digital circuit block inside a processor that performs integer math and bitwise operations.
Clock speed
The operating frequency of a processor or digital chip, determining how fast it executes instructions.
Microcontroller
A compact integrated circuit designed to govern a specific operation in an embedded system.
Motherboard
The main printed circuit board in a computer or complex electronic system routes power and data between major components.