clock cycle
CPU timing unit
A clock cycle is the basic unit of time in a computer processor, measured from one pulse of the system clock to the next.
The processor completes operations in discrete steps timed to these pulses—faster clock speeds mean more cycles per second and generally faster performance.
The instruction takes three clock cycles to execute.
One-billionth second unit
- picosecondTrillionth of a second
- latencyDelay in system response
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- periodPunctuation ending sentences
duration · throughput · synchronization · pulse · tick · oscillation · phase · interval
Main computing chip
- coreCentral essential portion
- instructionGuidance for action
- executionCompleting a planned task
- pipelineLong-distance fluid transport tube
cache · register · microarchitecture · fetch · decode · ALU · out-of-order · stall
Cyclic signal generator
- crystalOrdered-atom solid
- quartzCrystalline silicon dioxide
- flip-flopSudden change of position
- latchDoor-securing catch
transistor · logic gate · signal · voltage · semiconductor · silicon · integrated circuit · die
Frequency measurement unit
- megahertzOne million oscillations per second
- gigahertzFrequency unit, billions
- terahertzTrillion hertz unit
- benchmarkStandard for comparison
performance · cycles per second · CPI · utilization · efficiency · overhead
nanosecond
One-billionth second unit
- picosecondTrillionth of a second
- latencyDelay in system response
- frequencyRate of recurrence
period · duration · throughput · synchronization · pulse · tick · oscillation · phase · interval · setup time
CPU
Main computing chip
- coreCentral essential portion
- instructionGuidance for action
- executionCompleting a planned task
pipeline · cache · register · microarchitecture · fetch · decode · ALU · out-of-order · stall · hazard
oscillator
Cyclic signal generator
latch · transistor · logic gate · signal · voltage · semiconductor · silicon · integrated circuit · die
hertz
Frequency measurement unit
- megahertzOne million oscillations per second
- gigahertzFrequency unit, billions
- terahertzTrillion hertz unit
benchmark · performance · cycles per second · CPI · utilization · efficiency · overhead
- computer termsbit, byte, binary, cursor, click
- computing unitsbit, byte, kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte
- computer architectureCPU, ALU, registers, processor, microprocessor
- CPU Architectureinstruction set, CPU, processor, register, microarchitecture
- computer metricsbyte, bit depth, kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte
- Runtimeexecution, runtime, CPU time, elapsed time, processing time