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Central Processing Unit (CPU)
As we have seen, ENIAC's CPU took up an entire room. Today, a CPU takes the form of a microprocessor, an entire CPU system that fits on silicon wafer the size of a postage stamp. Such microprocessors include the Intel Pentium processor used in many personal computers, and the Motorola PowerPC processor used in the Apple Power Macintosh series. A typical microprocessor will contain millions of tiny electronic devices, called transistors, interconnected by tiny wires. Each transistor is a simple electronic switch, but when connected to millions of other switches, it becomes a very complex and rather powerful computational engine. |
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If you encounter technical errors, contact computing@calvin.edu.
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