The CPU contains a limited amount of storage space called logs, including the control register, which monitors and alters the CPU’s behavior. The control register eliminates latency and increases access speed for vital CPU activities, preventing delays and disruptions. Its primary uses include interrupt control, paging, addressing, and coprocessor functionality.
Although the main system memory on a computer is random access memory (RAM), which is generally plugged into the motherboard and connected to the computer’s processor, RAM isn’t the only type of memory on a computer. The central processing unit (CPU) also contains a limited amount of storage space, allowing for extremely rapid data movement. These locations are known as logs. The control register on a computer is a type of register that monitors or alters the basic behavior of the computer’s CPU.
Think of the control register as a tiny drawer inside the CPU that the computer can access much more easily than other memory locations in the system. By placing the control register on the physical CPU die, it eliminates latency and increases access speed to a much higher value than other locations in the system. Thus, the computer uses it for the most vital CPU activities to keep the computer running smoothly and efficiently.
Without a control register, the CPU could only store data by sending it to RAM over the front side bus (FSB). Also, it could only retrieve data by bringing it back from memory across the front side bus. While this may seem trivial, the bandwidth of the front side bus – the maximum amount of data it can carry at a time – is quite limited. With thousands of pieces of data passing every second, this would quickly become a serious bottleneck for your computer, creating delays and disrupting the flow of basic operations. Using an audit log means that data doesn’t have to travel at all – it’s the difference between keeping something in a desk drawer, where it’s handy, and storing it in a letterbox at the end of the driveway.
Primary uses for the control register include interrupt control, paging, addressing, and coprocessor functionality. Interrupts occur when a hardware device on your computer sends an “emergency” signal to the CPU, requesting it to stop what it’s currently doing to handle a specific problem. Addressing refers to finding and using physical addresses in system RAM, retrieving and storing information for the computer. Paging is another memory management technique, where information is stored in the “page file” located on a hard drive. The coprocessor is used to complement the CPU, handling graphics information and other operations such as floating point arithmetic and cryptography.
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