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Description:

So what's a CPU? It stands for Central Processing Unit. Many users erroneously refer to the whole computer box as the CPU.  In fact, the CPU itself is only about 1.5 inches square.  The CPU does exactly what it stands for. It is the control unit that processes all* of the instructions for the computer.  Consider it to be the "brain" of the computer.  It does all the thinking.  So, would you like to have a fast or slow brain?  Obviously, the answer to this question makes the CPU the most important part of the computer.  The speed here is the most significant. The processor's (CPU's) speed is given in a MHz or GHz rating (see Glossary). 3 GHz is roughly 3,000 MHz.

* In today's computers, the video cards, sound cards, etc. also process instructions, but the majority of the burden lays on the CPU.

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