Hardware Components of a Computer

  1. The CPU (= Central Processing Unit), also referred to sometimes as the processor or microprocessor, is the brain of the computer that calculates things (e.g., adding numbers,) makes decisions (e.g., executes if-else statements,) and, in general, runs a program's instructions.
    A CPU might contain multiple cores, each of which, like an independent brain, can perform computations and execute instructions independently and in parallel to the other cores. A quad-core CPU, for example, contains 4 cores.
    A closeup view of the square, nearly-flat silver-colored metal cpu chip, fixed inside its closed case on the computer's motherboard.

    Closeup of the CPU on the Motherboard. Miriam Briskman, CC BY-NC 4.0.

    A top view of the square, nearly-flat silver-colored metal cpu chip: Intel Core i5-2300, 2.80GHZ, Made in Costa Rica.

    The CPU chip, Top (Outer) View. Miriam Briskman, CC BY-NC 4.0.

    A bottom (inner) view of the square, nearly-flat silver-colored metal cpu chip: the small copper touchpoints all across this surface are visible.

    The CPU chip, Bottom (Inner) View. Miriam Briskman, CC BY-NC 4.0.

These notes by Miriam Briskman are licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 and based on sources.