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IB DP Computer Science — A1 Computer fundamentals — Computer hardware and operation | SL | A1.1.1
📋 What You Will Learn
- Describe the function of the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and the control unit (CU)
- State the role of each of the five key registers: IR, PC, MAR, MDR and AC
- Describe what the address, data and control buses carry, and in which direction
- Explain how these components interact when the CPU accesses memory
- Distinguish single-core processors, multi-core processors and co-processors
- Sketch a labelled block diagram of the CPU and its connections to memory
🍳 Why This Matters Think of the CPU as a restaurant kitchen. The control unit is the head chef reading the recipe and telling everyone what to do next; the ALU is the cook who actually chops and mixes; the registers are the small countertop spaces holding exactly what is being worked on right now; and the buses are the corridors along which orders and ingredients travel.