Introduction to Microprocessors

Overview

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Introduction to Microprocessors is targeted at anyone with an interest in learning the basics of computer architecture, microprocessors and CPUs. Do you want to understand how the central processing unit (CPU) of a microprocessor works? How the code you type is actually executed by your computer? Presented by engineers from Arm, this course provides you with an introduction to the central components of processors including: - the Arithmetic Logic Unit, or ALU, and the arithmetic and logical operations it carries out; - the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle or FDE within different architectures; - pipelining, or how a CPU decides what to prioritize and the challenges faced when doing so; - types of memory and their uses; - the process that high level code, such as C#, goes through to get converted into machine code; - assembly code, an interim step between high level and machine level code; and - how assembling and compiling work together to produce object code or executable files. To get the most out of this course, learners should already be familiar with basic Boolean algebra and have experience of programming in object code, such as Python or C.

Syllabus

Welcome to the Course

Meet your instructors and learn what you can expect from the course.

Module 1: Introduction to the CPU

This first module will introduce you to the central processing unit, or CPU, of a computer. We will introduce the basic components of a computer before introducing the components of the CPU itself. We'll help you understand the different types of memory inside a computer, registers within the CPU, and the data lines, or buses, which are used to carry data and instructions around the CPU. Finally, you will be introduced to the concept of binary instructions and their component parts, opcodes, operands, and addressing modes, as well as an insight into why binary is so important in the world of computers.

Module 2: The ALU and Decode Unit: Their Functions and Relationship to Input-Process-Output

This module will introduce you to the heart of the CPU - the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and the basic arithmetic operations, as well as some of the Boolean operations that it performs.

Module 3: The Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle, Including an Introduction to Two Basic Architectures and Pipelining

In this module, you will learn about the process to organize the execution of instructions - the fetch-decode-execute cycle (FDE). We will look at some of the elements which impact the performance of the CPU, and you will be introduced to the concept of pipelining.