Your computer’s central processing unit holds the billions of transistors that are responsible for reading and carrying out the instructions of the various inputs and software programs in your computer. In other words, the CPU is what makes your computer run.
Like many of the components in a computer, it is seated in the motherboard. It fits into a socket from which it can connect with other parts of the computer through what are called “buses”.
Importantly, the CPU works in tandem with many other components. For instance, while the CPU has some limited internal memory, it needs access to a memory card to keep track of complex tasks, like running simultaneous programs. Additionally, some CPUs can handle processing basic graphics, but more intense graphics, like those used in PC gaming and virtual reality, will need to utilize a second processing unit called the GPU (graphics processing unit).
