CPU

CPU stands for Central Processing Unit and is a specialized electronic chip that performs all of the processing of instructions on a computer including the IT-100. Like all electronic components in a computer, a CPU is located on the motherboard or main circuit board of the computer. All of the functions performed on a computer are processed mathematically. A CPU performs the calculations that make up any set of instructions on a computer at a high rate of speed. The more programs and processes that are actively running on a computer, the more instructions must be "read" and executed by the CPU. There are many processes that run in the "background" on a computer and do not have to be started by a user. CPU usage can be described as the "load" the CPU is taking. If a computer is performing slowly, one possible cause is that the CPU is under too high a load, processing a large number of instructions. A CPU is also sometimes referred as a processor or central processor.