Term
| ALU-Arithmitic logic unit |
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Definition
| The part of the central processing unit (CPU) that is designed to perform mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and comparison operations, such as greater than, less than, and equal to. |
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| A language that enables programmers to write their programs using a set of short, English-like commands that speak directly to the central processing unit (CPU) and give the programmer very direct control of hardware resources. |
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| A digit that corresponds to the on and off states of a computer's switches. A bit contains a value of either 0 or 1. |
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| Eight binary digits (bits). |
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| The steady and constant pace at which a computer goes through machine cycles, measured in hertz (Hz). |
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| A component that controls the switches inside the central processing unit (CPU). |
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Term
| CPU-central processing unit |
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Definition
| The part of the system unit of a computer that is responsible for data processing (or the "brains" of the computer); it is the largest and most important chip in the computer. The CPU controls all the functions performed by the computer's other components and processes all the commands issued to it by software instructions. |
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| The time it takes to fetch and execute a single machine-level instruction by the central processing unit (CPU). |
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| A set of instructions executed directly by the central processing unit (CPU). |
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| A special circuit board in the system unit that contains the central processing unit (CPU), the memory (RAM) chips, and the slots available for expansion cards; all of the other boards (video cards, sound cards, and so on) connect to it to receive power and to communicate. |
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| A technique that enables the central processing unit (CPU) to work on more than one instruction (or stage of processing) at a time, thereby boosting CPU performance. |
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| The metal or plastic case that holds all the physical parts of the computer together, including the computer's processor (its brains), its memory, and the many circuit boards that help the computer function. |
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