Re: A new article about GEOS

CPU is a term derived from mainframe computing where the CPU is the unit
that controlled processing. Because the whole computer encompassed several
large 'cabinets' housings. There was two memory units. Short term memory
units (essentially, your RAM) and the long term memory units (the
reel-to-reel units).

Since then, a single microprocessor chip contained everything that was and
is needed for processing instructions. In fact, MPU is MicroProcessing Unit.
A single computer may contain more than one MPU but only the main MPU that
controls or is essentially the master to all the other MPUs and other chips
is the "CPU". To some extent, other chips on cards or on the motherboard may
contain processing units within itself (Essentially any microcontroller) and
therefore may have multiple processors.

There is subsequent situations in which there is multiple CPUs, like a
parallel processing units. This is because the bank of CPUs are equal to
each other in the heiarchy. However, networks are exceptions to the rule but
are typically an interconnection of complete computers. So.... well doesn't
matter.

IBM did essentially call the main unit the CPU because they were utilizing
mainframe-era terminology and applied it to their personal computers.
However, a typical IBM PC would contain a short term, long term and CPU all
in one unit. Making it a little silly but eventually the CPU had been
narrowed down the microprocessor that controls the computer as the CPU in
today's common use. Thus keeping more true to the mainframe-era context in
the first place.

These days, MCU (Micro Controller Unit) can essentially be a self-contained
computer... look at the 65c265 and it is. It does have some internal
embedded RAM. ANyway, old mainframe era terms live on.

"J. B. Wood" <wood@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:wood-3008060709130001@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In article <slrnef8tji.6lr.news-200605@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Spiro
Trikaliotis <news-200605@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

little broader.

Notice that people grown up with microprocessors tend to say CPU
("Central Processing Unit") = MPU ("Micro Processing Unit", the
microprocessor). Anyway, anyone grown with "bigger systems" would
consider a MPU together with RAM and ROM as "CPU". "Back in they days",
there were people considering the whole computer (for example, the C64)
as "CPU" to distinguish that from the peripherals (floppy, etc.)

Regards,
Spiro.

Hello, and at the risk of showing my age and digressing further OT, I
remember taking some undergrad computer courses at Virginia Tech where the
the term "CPU" was not even used in describing computer architecture.
There was a "control unit" and an "arithmetic and logic unit." The first
time I ever encountered the term "Central Processing Unit" was the front
panel label on the main console of an IBM series 370. Wonder if IBM
coined the term. Sincerely,

John Wood (Code 5550) e-mail: wood@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Naval Research Laboratory
4555 Overlook Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20375-5337


.

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