Computer Organization And Architecture

History oF Processor

• The earliest forms of computer processors were designed from vacuum tubes and electrical relays. By the 1950s, these had been replaced by the advent of the transistor. These transistors were built onto printed circuit boards, copper that is etched onto a non-electrical board, and various components were added. These computer processors were large and bulky, sometimes taking up whole rooms.
  During the construction of the Apollo guidance computer for NASA, scientists were able construct integrated circuits that allowed large numbers of transistors to be manufactured into a single semiconductor. This was found to be more reliable that previous models and much more compact.
  The microprocessor was invented by Intel in 1970. The 4004 was as fast as its larger cousins, but could be used in much smaller devices. With the advent of the personal computer, the majority of processor technology uses the microprocessor model.

CPU

Every PC has a Central Processing Unit (CPU) this acts as the brain of your system. It connects to 

the Motherboard and works alongside the other components processing many instructions at the 

same time between the different hardware and memory systems.

Advancements in CPU technology now mean systems typically come with Dual Core, Triple core or Quad Core processors (on one single chip) instead of the traditional one core per chip. Now the total number of Cores can slot into a socket as before and a single heat sink and fan can keep everything to the right temperature.

Intel and AMD are the two companies who dominate the PC Processor market. Both have been around for decades and have become the main Chip suppliers for the home and business markets.

Intel processors are most commonly used in prefabricated computer systems, such as those from Dell and HP.

The company focuses on two different lines of processors: the Pentium and the Celeron. 

Pentium processors are the larger microchip style that works on most desktop and some laptops. They can handle high-demand processing, such as that found in 3D gaming, video editing and other multimedia-intense applications.

Celeron processors are more compact models with the ability to run a basic computer efficiently and cost-effectively.

AMD's line of computer processors can be found in prefabricated models, however, are most commonplace with home-built systems or specially designed machines.

AMD was the first to build a 64-bit processor, capable of high-end applications use with graphic intensive operations.
The previous industry standard had been 32-bit processing. Some AMD processors offer built-in virus protection.