Processor (computing)

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In computing, a processor or processing unit is a digital circuit which performs operations on some external data source, usually memory or some other data stream.^[1] It typically takes the form of a microprocessor, which can be implemented on a single metal–oxide–semiconductor integrated circuit chip.

The term is frequently used to refer to the central processing unit in a system.^[2] However, it can also refer to other co-processors.

Examples[]

Central Processing Unit (CPU)
- If designed conforming to the von Neumann architecture, it contains at least a control unit (CU), arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and processor registers.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
Sound chips and sound cards
Vision Processing Unit (VPU)
Tensor Processing Unit (TPU)
Neural Processing Unit (NPU)
Physics Processing Unit (PPU)
Digital Signal Processor (DSP)
Image Signal Processor (ISP)
Synergistic Processing Element or Unit (SPE or SPU) in the cell microprocessor
Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)
Quantum Processing Unit (QPU)

References[]

^ "Oxford English Dictionary". Lexico. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
^ "Oxford English Dictionary". Lexico. Retrieved 25 March 2020.

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Theory	Digital signal Boolean algebra Logic synthesis Logic in computer science Computer architecture Digital signal Digital signal processing Circuit minimization Switching circuit theory Gate equivalent
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Processor technologies

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Processor (computing)

Examples[]

See also[]

References[]