Which are the three main components of the CPU?

ALU, control unit and registers

What does the control unit do?

Fetches and decodes instructions and generates control signals

Performs arithmetic and logic operations

Stores data in fast on-chip storage

What is the function of the ALU?

Performs arithmetic and logic operations on data

Holds the next instruction address

2078 Bhadra · 2 marks

Components of CPU

Short answer

The CPU consists of the ALU for arithmetic/logic operations, the control unit which fetches/decodes instructions and generates control signals, and registers (PC, IR, AC, etc.) for fast storage. They are linked by internal buses.

Explain the components of CPU.

The CPU has three main components:

ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit): performs arithmetic and logic operations on data.
Control unit (CU): fetches and decodes instructions and generates the control signals that direct the ALU, registers, memory and I/O.
Registers: fast on-chip storage, including PC, IR, AR, DR, AC, flags and general-purpose registers.

They are connected by internal buses.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

All Computer Organization and Architecture chapter 2 questions →