CPU Quiz

1.    What does CPU stand for?

Central processing unit

The central processing unit (CPU), or the microprocessor, is the heart of your desktop of laptop computer, a tiny chip that contains an entire computation engine on top.

2.    When was the first commercial microprocessor introduced?

1971

The first commercial microprocessor, the Intel 4004, was introduced in 1971. Although it couldn't do much -- it could only add and subtract four bits at a time -- it powered one of the first portable calculators.

3.    Out of what material are computer chips made?

Silicon

Computer chips are small pieces of silicon onto which transistors are etched. Much of the microprocessor-producing industry is located in the San Francisco Bay Area in Southern California and has earned the nickname of "Silicon Valley."

4.    The width of the smallest wire on a computer chip is typcially measured in:

Microns

The smallest wire on a chip is measured in microns. Current chips have wires that are less than one micron wide, while a human hair is about 100 microns thick.

5.    Which of the following is not part of a computer chip's job?

Starting up the computer

Although CPUs have many complicated tasks to run, they do three basic things: perform mathematical operations, move data between memory locations and follow sets of instructions. The job of starting up the computer specifically involves the bootstrap loader.

6.    To what do buses and lines connect in a computer chip?

ROM and RAM

Address and data buses, which send addresses and data to memory, and read and write lines, which tell the memory whether it wants to set or get an addressed location, can connect to either ROM or RAM and generally connects to both.

7.    What does ROM stand for?

Read-only memory

ROM stands for read-only memory. Unlike RAM (random access memory), ROM chips are programmed with a set of bytes that can't change.

8.    On a PC, what do the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) instructions do?

Both of the above

When the microprocessor starts up, it looks towards the BIOS for several instructions. Among other things such as storing the boot sector in RAM after it's read, BIOS instructions check the machine's hardware for errors and then load the operating system.

9.    Computer chip designers create language instructions that the microprocessor reads. What part of the computer can translate the words from the instructions into bit patterns the chip can understand?

The assembler

Because humans aren't very good at remembering complex bit patterns, the assembler translates semantic instructions developed by designers into a language the CPU can use.

10.  About how much address space can a 64-bit microprocessor access?

One billion GB

While 32-bit microprocessors can only address between 2 and 4 gigabytes of RAM, 64-bit microprocessors can address as much as one billion gigabytes of RAM if needed. Although that may seem excessive for something like home computers, such extra space may be necessary in the future for overloaded servers.

11.  The Intel 8086 processor, introduced in 1978, included what important advance?

It was one of the first 16-bit processors.

The 8086 popularized 16-bit technology, which helped make it the first of an influential series of CPU chips.

12.  How many transistors are included in the Intel Core i7 processor, introduced in 2008?

731 million

The i7 packs 731 million transistors onto its CPU chip. Count 'em.

13.  The CPU is included on a central component of the computer known as:

the motherboard

The motherboard holds the CPU, memory cards and various ports and controllers.

14.  What is a CPU’s clock speed?

the rate at which it can execute instructions

The clock speed indicates how quickly the CPU can execute instructions. The frequency is measured in megahertz or gigahertz.

15.  The memory that a CPU can use directly is called:

cache memory

Cache memory is faster than system memory. It stores copies of the most needed data for easy access by the CPU.

16.  The process size of a CPU refers to what?

the fineness of the manufacturing technique

Process size refers to how finely the CPU components are etched on to the chip. In 2012, the process size for chips had reached 22 nanometers.

17.  A turbo boost allows a CPU to:

run at a speed faster than that for which it’s rated

Turbo boost increases the power and speed of a CPU when more processing power is needed.

18.  Every CPU needs to:

dissipate heat

Getting rid of heat is important to keeping a CPU running. Passive heat sinks or fans are the most common methods.

19.  Which type of CPU was used in the first IBM personal computer?

16-bit

The original PC, introduced in 1981, used an 16-bit processor, but it only had an 8-bit bus to carry the data.

20.  The first commercial processor was used in:

a programmable business calculator

Intel Corp. created its 4004 programmable chip for calculators in 1971.

21.  Which of these is an important manufacturer of CPU chips?

AMD

Along with Intel, Advanced Micro Devices, known as AMD, is a major maker of microprocessors.