[ The PC Guide | Systems and Components Reference Guide | The Processor ]

Processor Architecture and Operation

This section takes a complete look at the way the processor works. A processor executes program instructions (software) to allow your computer to perform useful functions for you. How effectively and efficiently it does this is a function of its architecture, which is the word used to describe its internal design. The processor's architecture describes the internal way it processes data, which is one of the most important factors in determining overall performance (the other being raw clock speed). The processor's external interfaces describe the way it communicates information with the memory, chipset and other devices in the PC.

Next: External Processor Interfaces and Operation

Home  -  Search  -  Topics  -  Up