The processor is the central unit that executes instructions in a computer. It is the brain. It fetches instructions from memory, decodes them, and carries them out. Billions of operations per second. Every click, keystroke, and frame of video passes through it.

Modern processors have multiple cores. Each core can run a separate thread. Some processors have integrated graphics. Others are specialized for AI or networking. The design balances speed, power, and heat. Faster clocks generate more heat. More cores use more power. Engineers trade off constantly.

Key specs

• Clock speed: cycles per second, in GHz
• Cores: independent execution units
• Threads: virtual cores for multitasking
• Cache: fast memory on the chip
• Architecture: x86, ARM, RISC-V

Processor progress has slowed. Moore's Law is fading. Chipmakers now add cores, stack layers, and design specialized units. The age of easy speedups is over. The age of specialized silicon is here.