Types of processors

The central processing units (CPUs), usually referred to as processors, are the brains of every computer system. They carry out calculations and instructions, allowing the computer to complete a variety of activities. The design and arrangement of the parts that make up a computer system is referred to as computer architecture. Based on their architecture, processors can be divided into various categories. Some of the most typical varieties are listed below:

1. Single-core Processor: Processor with a single core that can only process one instruction at a time: This is the most basic sort of processor.

2. 
   

3. Multi-core Processor: Multiple cores are located on a single chip in a multi-core processor. Because each core can independently carry out its own set of instructions, more tasks can be processed in simultaneously, improving multitasking efficiency.

4. 
   

5. Multi-threaded Processor: A multi-threaded processor is able to run numerous threads (or instruction streams) concurrently on a single core. Simultaneous multithreading (SMT) or Hyper-Threading (Intel's moniker for SMT) techniques are used to accomplish this.

6. 
   

7. Multi-processor System: A multi-processor system is made up of several CPUs or processors, each of which has its own set of cores. These processors cooperate to carry out commands, resulting in even more parallel processing capacity.

8. 
   

9. Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): Although they were made primarily for displaying graphics and images, GPUs are highly parallel processors that are capable of carrying out challenging mathematical operations. In activities like gaming, artificial intelligence, and scientific simulations, they are frequently used.

10. 
    

11. Accelerator Co-processor: Specific types of computations can be offloaded from the main CPU using some specialized processors. For instance, co-processors designed for vector processing and deep learning workloads, respectively, include Intel's Xeon Phi and NVIDIA's Tensor Cores.

12. 
    

13. Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC): ASICs are processors created specifically for a given purpose or application. They are frequently found in equipment like network routers, IoT devices, and cryptocurrency mining rigs since they are designed to efficiently carry out a certain set of tasks.

14. 
    

15. Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA): A sort of programmable processor called an FPGA can be set up to construct unique logic circuits. They are frequently employed in settings where adaptability and customisation are crucial.

16. 
    

17. System on a Chip (SoC): An SoC is a single chip that combines several components, such as processors, memory, and peripherals. They are frequently seen in tablets, smartphones, and other portable electronics.

18. 
    

19. Quantum Processor: Quantum processors are experimental, highly specialized processors that carry out quantum computations using quantum bits (qubits). They may be able to address some issues much more quickly than conventional CPUs.

The desired use case, performance requirements, power needs, and cost factors all affect the CPU architecture decision. As technology develops, new processor types and designs might appear, further enhancing the capabilities of computing systems.