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The processor is an electronic circuit that executes computer programs. It performs it in four basic phases:

1. Fetch: In this phase, the processor collects the bytes to execute from memory (which may be RAM or cache). Each instruction is saved in memory as one or more bytes depending on the processor type. The more the word +length, the more complexity and power consumption of the processor. Once the processor collects the bytes, then it is ready to decode it.

2. Decoding: In this phase, the processor takes the bytes read in the previous step and input them to the decoder. The decoder activates then the line corresponding to the instruction whose bytes equal to the bytes read from the fetching phase. Each instruction in the processor is mapped to a certain bits or bytes by the designer so that when the processor fetches these bits or bytes, it can understand them. The number of bits used to represent each instruction may vary according to the processor type. Note that this number of bits may not take the whole word in the memory. For example if the word is represented by 8 bits, then the first four bits can be assigned to the instruction part and the last four bits can be assigned to the data which is needed for the instruction to execute.

3. Executing: once the processor knows the meaning of the bits by the decoder, it goes then to the execute phase. In this phase, the processor makes the necessary operation as denoted by the decoder. This operation is done on the operand contained along with the instruction bits in the memory word.. The operation can be addition, subtraction, AND, or any mathematical or logical operation.

4. Write Back: once the processor done the operation, it writes it back to the memory in the place denoted by the instruction. This result may be fed to other instructions in the same program.

This processes are repeated for each instruction until the whole program is executed. recall that the program is composed of a series of instructions that are hold in memory. each time an instruction is encountered, the above phases are repeated for each instruction.

Modern processors can execute these phases in parallel by techniques called parallel processing. this will allow for higher speed of execution but at the cost of the coplexity of the hardware and power consumption. parallel processing requires to monitor processes which are executed in parallel such that they cannot alter variables at the same time. this is what is called synchronization. if two programs which are executed at the same time access the same variable it will lead to errors in the results. this is one reason that make parallel processing more complicated. In terms of programming, processes are called threading, which means that the programmer can create two blocks of instructions which are executed at the same time.

To tell the truth, most people today really don’t give a moment’s consideration for the most important component within today’s modern computer, the microprocessor. The most important material in computer processors today is also one of the most common materials in the world, and without it, these wondrous little devices probably wouldn’t be nearly as capable as they really are.

Just about every processor or microprocessor is actually more properly called a central processing unit, or CPU. It’s basically the heart and soul of the computer and its basic mission is to take numeric data handed over to it from a computer program and then turn that data (in the form of the binary numbers 1 and 0) into commands that control the functioning of the computer.

These ones and zeros are presented in a variety of sequences and lengths, of course. A one normally stands for “true” while the zero stands for “false.” That’s really about all that they do but the sequencing of ones and zeros is what causes everything to happen. The first microprocessor making use of this mechanism was invented in 1971. Its manufacturer now dominates the world microprocessor market.

As far as the materials (or at least the major material) that makes up a processor, it really hasn’t changed all that much since 1971. Processors, though, have evolved magnificently, and in terms of power and capability they’re vastly more impressive than those first versions. Every microprocessor makes use of a material called silicon, by the way, and it’s the same material found in sand.

However, there are huge differences between the kind of silicon that’s used in a microprocessor and the sand that’s found on a beach. This form of silicon is chemically purified to an extremely high state and works well with a couple of different metals, copper being the one most in use nowadays. It replaced aluminum for various reasons. Now, once it’s purified it’s then sent for further processing.

From purification and into processing, the silicon is melted and shaped into an ingot that’s normally no more than 300 mm wide. After shaping, the silicon ingot is then ground until it’s perfectly round in shape. Next, it’s sliced into very thin wafers and a mirror finish is applied. Quality control across every aspect of this process is quite impressive, it must be said.

There’s a lot more that goes into the manufacturing of processors, of course, but it’s really impressive that they can do what they do once one understands that one of the most common of materials (silicon) is actually the major component material in a microprocessor. Nowadays, these devices are found in everything under the sun and a computer wouldn’t be able to operate without them, and Silicon Valley would never have been heard of, either