The Central Processing Unit

The CPU is called the brain of the computer. CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. It does all the math and makes decisions. Without a CPU, a computer could not do anything at all.

What the CPU Does

The CPU follows instructions from software programs. It can do billions of tiny tasks every second. It adds numbers, compares information, and moves data around. Every click, every keystroke, and every game action goes through the CPU.

How CPUs Have Changed

Early CPUs were big and slow compared to today. Modern CPUs are tiny chips smaller than a postage stamp. They have billions of transistors packed inside. CPUs today are fast enough to run video games with amazing graphics. Companies like Intel and AMD make most of the world's CPUs.

Fun Facts

• A modern CPU can do over 100 billion calculations per second.
• CPUs get so hot they need a fan or special cooler on top of them.
• The transistors inside a CPU are so tiny that thousands of them could fit on a single human hair.

Did You Know?

The first CPU made on a single chip was the Intel 4004, released in 1971. It had only 2,300 transistors. Today's CPUs have over 10 billion!