Computing

• Central processing unit
  Central processing unit
  The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...
  
   (CPU), an electronic circuit which executes computer programs, containing a processing unit and a control unit
  • Processing unit, in Von Neumann computer architecture, contains an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and processor registers
• Microprocessor
  Microprocessor
  A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and...
  
  , a CPU on one silicon chip as part of a microcomputer
• Graphics processing unit
  Graphics processing unit
  A graphics processing unit or GPU is a specialized circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory in such a way so as to accelerate the building of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display...
  
   (GPU / VPU), a dedicated graphics rendering device for a personal computer or game console
• Physics processing unit
  Physics processing unit
  A physics processing unit is a dedicated microprocessor designed to handle the calculations of physics, especially in the physics engine of video games. Examples of calculations involving a PPU might include rigid body dynamics, soft body dynamics, collision detection, fluid dynamics, hair and...
  
   (PPU), a dedicated microprocessor designed to handle the calculations of physics
• Digital signal processor
  Digital signal processor
  A digital signal processor is a specialized microprocessor with an architecture optimized for the fast operational needs of digital signal processing.-Typical characteristics:...
  
  , a specialized microprocessor designed specifically for digital signal processing
• Network processor
  Network processor
  A network processor is an integrated circuit which has a feature set specifically targeted at the networking application domain.Network processors are typically software programmable devices and would have generic characteristics similar to general purpose central processing units that are commonly...
  
  , a microprocessor specifically targeted at the networking application domain
• Front end processor
  Front end processor
  A front end processor , or a communications processor, is a small-sized computer which interfaces to the host computer a number of networks, such as SNA, or a number of peripheral devices, such as terminals, disk units, printers and tape units. Data is transferred between the host computer and the...
  
  , a helper processor for communication between a host computer and other devices
• Coprocessor
  Coprocessor
  A coprocessor is a computer processor used to supplement the functions of the primary processor . Operations performed by the coprocessor may be floating point arithmetic, graphics, signal processing, string processing, or encryption. By offloading processor-intensive tasks from the main processor,...
  
  
  • Floating point unit
    Floating point unit
    A floating-point unit is a part of a computer system specially designed to carry out operations on floating point numbers. Typical operations are addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and square root...
    
    
• Data processor
  Data processing (disambiguation)
  Data processing most often refers to Computer data processing, computer processes that convert data into information or knowledge.Data processing may also refer to:*Automatic data processing, has the following meanings...
  
  , a system that translates or converts between different data formats
• Word processor
  Word processor
  A word processor is a computer application used for the production of any sort of printable material....
  
  , a computer application used for the production of printable material
• Audio processor, used in studios and radio stations