CPU – Central Processing Unit A.K.A. Microprocessor
You might be wondering what exactly a Central Processing Unit (CPU) is? A lot of books and articles describe it as the brain of your computer, I think that is a sad description of a CPU.
A CPU has one function and that is to process information. Central Processing Unit, process information, I see wheels moving, a light is coming on. No mystical words in this term. It is fairly easy to figure out.
A human brain has many functions one of which is to process information. This is not the only function of your brain. This is why if you really think about it, it takes the whole computer in order to compare it to a human brain.
What exactly does a CPU process? I am glad you asked, It process math equations. Everything you see on your computer is an answer to a mathematical equation. The icons, the words, even the colors are just answers to math problems.
The problem is that the CPU has to calculate so many problems at such a high speed it gets super hot. That is why you find a heatsink with a fan on the top of the CPU. The heatsink is the grate looking thing under the fan.
The CPU heatsink and fan is the biggest reason you need to keep the inside of your PC clean and dust free. As dust collects between the slots in the heatsink it does not ventilate properly and the CPU overheats and affects the speed and performance of your PC.
Tip: Buy a can of air and use it on the heatsink and fan at least once a month. If you notice loud noises or other defects in CPU fan replace it. They are usually not expensive. Refer to
CPU Fan
When you read the ads that say CPU (processor) speed (like 3.2GHz) this is how fast it calculates the math equations. The faster it calculates, the faster the PC is. There are other factors that speed up your PC, but that is for another day.
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POSTED IN: Hardware, Intro To PC's, PC Repair Training
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