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Microprocessors - Paper

Microprocessors


Inside of the mysterious box that perches ominously on your desk is one of
the marvels of the modern world. This marvel is also a total enigma to most of
the population. This enigma is, of course, the microprocessor. To an average
observer a microprocessor is simply a small piece of black plastic that is found
inside of almost everything.
In How Microprocessors Work they are defined as a computer's central
processing unit, usually contained on a single integrated circuit (Wyant and
Hammerstrom, 193). In plain English this simply means that a microprocessor is
the brain of a computer and it is only on one chip. Winn L. Rosch compares them
to being an electronic equivalent of a knee-joint ...

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describe a microprocessor as a factory and all of
the inner workings of the chip as the various parts of a factory (Wyant and
Hammerstrom, 71-103). Basically a microprocessor can be seen as a factory
because like a factory it is sent something and is told what to do with it. The
microprocessor factory processes information. This most basic unit of this
information is the bit. A bit is simply on or off. It is either a one or a zero.
Bits are put into 8 bit groups called bytes. The number 8 is used because it is
offers enough combinations to encode our entire language (2^8=256). If only 4
bits are used only (2^4=16) combinations would be possible. This is enough to
encode 9 digits and some operations. (The first microprocessors powered
calculators) A half byte is called a nibble and consists of 4 bits. In the world
of computer graphics the combination of bits is easier seen. In computer
graphics bits are used to make color combinations, thus with more bits more
colors are ...

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this
digital symbiosis work as fast as possible.
To an outsider, computer nerd vernacular and all other forms of computer
people esoteric may or may not be considered frightening. Probably the most
confused term in microprocessor performance is Megahertz (MHz). Basically these
are millions of cycles per second. This is a measurement of chip speed but is
better considered the RPM of the chip (Knorr, 135). For example a 486 100 MHz
processor cannot touch the speed of a Pentium running at only 60 MHz. This is
because the Pentium packs more power and can do more per clock cycle. The
computer bus is the data line that connects the microprocessor the rest of the
computer. The width of the bus ...

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"Microprocessors." Essayworld.com. August 13, 2007. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Microprocessors/69534.
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PAPER DETAILS
Added: 8/13/2007 06:30:20 PM
Category: Computers
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 2468
Pages: 9

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