What Does CPU Mean
CPU is an acronym in the English language that refers to the expression central processing unit (in our language, "central processing unit" ). With that name, the hardware whose function is to interpret the instructions of a software through logical and arithmetic operations is known.
The computers (PCs) may have a CPU or more than one. Currently, CPUs are on an integrated circuit ( chip ) known as a microprocessor . It should be noted that a single chip can house several CPUs, giving rise to so-called multicore processors .
The socket or CPU socket is in the motherboard ( motherboard ) and allows the connection of the microprocessor, which in most cases is not welded to be extracted later. Devices such as mobile phones, tablets and consoles, on the other hand, do bring their components soldered to the motherboard, since the companies that make them do not expect their customers to modify the products.
This results in two types of configurations : a closed one , in which modifications are not allowed unless the customer wishes to lose the coverage legally offered by the manufacturing company through the warranty; an open one , the one that desktop computers usually have, ideal for fans of the world of computing, who want to renew components very frequently to be always up to date.
The arithmetic-logic unit ( ALU ) is located in the CPU , which is responsible for solving the logical and arithmetic operations that come to it from the software . The control unit ( CU ), for its part, decodes and executes the instructions it extracts from memory and calls on the ALU when necessary.
At a general level, it can be said that the CPU has as its main function the execution of the software (that is, the set of instructions that we know as computer program). The representation of the software is done through a code stored in the memory of the computer , which the CPU reads, decodes, executes and finally writes.
The faster the CPU to perform these steps, the faster the user responds when using a computer. In colloquial language , we can indicate that a powerful CPU allows us to run advanced software quickly.
It is important to note that the CPU does not work alone, but usually divides tasks with other components, such as the GPU (the graphics processing unit ). The GPU is considered a coprocessor, since it is a microprocessor that serves to complement the operation of the CPU; This is not to say that it is not important or even essential in the design of a device that needs to print graphics on the screen, as almost all those that are used today.
NVIDIA Corporation , a North American company founded in 1993 that specializes in the development of GPUs and integrated circuit technologies, introduced in 2007 a concept called GPU accelerated computation , which consists of using a graphics processing unit to assist to the CPU and achieve acceleration of certain applications in the fields of engineering, analysis and deep learning .
It is worth mentioning that deep learning is a group of algorithms with which it is intended to model high-level abstractions through architectures that are composed of multiple non-linear transformations. In simpler words, it is a series of methods that allow computers to assimilate data so that they can automatically learn to solve certain problems. This task is so complex and demanding that combining a CPU with a GPU is ideal for obtaining results in less time.