Processing digital data 1

Question 1

What is a central processing unit?

Answer 1

Each computer has at least one
Runs instructions (code) in computer programmes
Controls input and output
Passes data directly back and forth from the RAM, the RAM then transfers data to and from the storage and to the output device

Question 2

What is a graphical processing unit?

Answer 2

A GPU focuses on processing visual data, if a device has a GPU, it frees up the CPU to deal with other types of data.

Question 3

What are the components in the CPU?

Answer 3

Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) carries out calculations and comparisons (used in sorting and searching)

Registers store bytes of data which are used by the ALU, also stores the address in RAM so the CPU knows where the next instruction will come from

Control unit controls instructions being passed between RAM, registers and the ALU. Sends the result of the instructions to the other components