The Function of the CPU
What is the CPU? - answer A small component, which is responsible for the processing
of data and instructions
What are CPUs often known as? - answer The 'Brain' of the Computer
What is the job of a CPU? - answer'Fetch', 'Decode' and 'Execute' instructions - process
data
What examples are there of processing data? - answer Searching, Sorting, Calculating
and Decision Making
When you open a program, where are its instructions and data loaded? - answer All the
data needed for the program to run is loaded onto the RAM
What happens during the 'Fetch' stage of the F-D-E cycle? – answer CPU fetches
data/instructions from the RAM. To do this it will call the address of the next item via the
address bus. The data/instructions are then sent back to the CPU via the data bus
What happens during the 'Decode' stage of the F-D-E cycle? - answer Where the CPU
make sense of the instructions and prepares for the next stage
What happens during the 'Execute' stage of the F-D-E cycle? - answer Where the data
processing takes place. Instructions are carried out on the data
What are the three main areas that together form the CPU architecture? -
answerControl Unit, Immediate Access Store (Cache), Arithmetic and Logic Unit
Name 3 jobs that the control unit will carry out - answer1. Managing and monitoring
hardware
2. Managing and monitoring input/output signals
3. Managing the F-D-E cycle
What is the purpose of the IAS (Immediate Access Store)? - answerThe IAS (cache) is
faster at delivering the data. The IAS will accept sets of instructions from the RAM so
that it can supply the ALU at the same speed as the CPU can process. This means that
the CPU can work at top speed.
What is the purpose of the ALU (Arithmetic & Logic Unit)? - answerCarries out the
maths and logic on the data.
What is the CPU? - answer A small component, which is responsible for the processing
of data and instructions
What are CPUs often known as? - answer The 'Brain' of the Computer
What is the job of a CPU? - answer'Fetch', 'Decode' and 'Execute' instructions - process
data
What examples are there of processing data? - answer Searching, Sorting, Calculating
and Decision Making
When you open a program, where are its instructions and data loaded? - answer All the
data needed for the program to run is loaded onto the RAM
What happens during the 'Fetch' stage of the F-D-E cycle? – answer CPU fetches
data/instructions from the RAM. To do this it will call the address of the next item via the
address bus. The data/instructions are then sent back to the CPU via the data bus
What happens during the 'Decode' stage of the F-D-E cycle? - answer Where the CPU
make sense of the instructions and prepares for the next stage
What happens during the 'Execute' stage of the F-D-E cycle? - answer Where the data
processing takes place. Instructions are carried out on the data
What are the three main areas that together form the CPU architecture? -
answerControl Unit, Immediate Access Store (Cache), Arithmetic and Logic Unit
Name 3 jobs that the control unit will carry out - answer1. Managing and monitoring
hardware
2. Managing and monitoring input/output signals
3. Managing the F-D-E cycle
What is the purpose of the IAS (Immediate Access Store)? - answerThe IAS (cache) is
faster at delivering the data. The IAS will accept sets of instructions from the RAM so
that it can supply the ALU at the same speed as the CPU can process. This means that
the CPU can work at top speed.
What is the purpose of the ALU (Arithmetic & Logic Unit)? - answerCarries out the
maths and logic on the data.
