Explore a Microprocessor
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This activity lets you select and view sections of a chip at a fixed magnification. Imagine you are putting a microprocessor on a microscope slide and moving it around under the lens.
Start with Select. Use your pointer to grab and drag the white circle to the part of the chip you want to view. Use the Focus, Intensity, and Zoom controls to perfect your image.
As you examine the microprocessor, think how different areas of the chip handle various tasks. Can you tell what this particular area of the chip does—fetch, decode, or execute?
Unless you are a chip designer, it would be hard to guess. Today's advanced microprocessors with their multiple layers and millions of transistors are too complex. What conclusion can you make? There is incredible processing power for all three tasks in something smaller than your fingernail.
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