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CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide

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CHAPTER 3

CPUs

In this chapter, you will learn how to

• Identify the core components of a CPU

• Describe the relationship of CPUs with memory

• Explain the varieties of modern CPUs

• Select and install a CPU

• Troubleshoot CPUs

The central processing unit (CPU), also called the microprocessor, is a single

silicon-based electronic chip that makes your computer…well, a computer.

Desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, even tiny computers in a

smartwatch or a washing machine have a CPU. A CPU invariably hides on

the motherboard below a heat sink and often a fan assembly as well. CPU

makers name their microprocessors in a fashion similar to the automobile

industry: CPUs get a make and a model, such as Intel Core i9, Qualcomm

Snapdragon 835, or AMD Ryzen 7. But what’s happening inside the CPU to

make it able to do the amazing things asked of it every time you step up to

the keyboard?

This chapter delves into microprocessors in detail. We’ll first discuss how

processors work and the components that enable them to interact with the rest

of the computer. The second section describes how CPUs work with memory.

The third section takes you on a tour of modern CPUs. The fourth section

gets into practical work, selecting and installing CPUs. The final section

covers troubleshooting CPUs in detail.

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