The CPU, or central processing unit, is one of the most important components on the motherboard. This one small chip is the "brain" of the PC. Like a traffic policeman, it tells everyone what to do and when. It controls the actions of your entire PC. Without this chip, your PC would not work at all.

CPUs come in different makes and models. They also run at different speeds. CPU manufacturers are continually improving their product. A new generation of CPU is introduced approximately every two years.