Seven top central processing unit (CPU) use cases

The

central
processing
unit
(CPU)
is
the
computer’s
brain,
assigning
and
processing
tasks
and
managing
essential
operational
functions.

Computers
have
been
so
seamlessly
integrated
with
modern
life
that
sometimes
we’re
not
even
aware
of
how
many
CPUs
are
in
use
around
the
world.
It’s
a
staggering
amount—so
many
CPUs
that
a
conclusive
figure
can
only
be
approximated.

How
many
CPUs
are
now
in
use?

It’s
been
estimated
that
there
may
be
as
many
as
200
billion
CPU
cores
(or
more)
now
running.
As
an
example
of
what
such
a
monumental
number
means
from
a
different
perspective,
chip
manufacturer

Arm
claimed
to
have
shipped
7.3
billion
chips
within
a
single
quarter
of
2020,
or
roughly
900
CPUs
for
each
second
of
that
entire
quarter.
(There
are
approximately
7.8
million
seconds
in
3
months.)

That
leads
to
a
stunning
comparison.
Projections
by
the
US
Census
Bureau
list
the
2024
global
population
at
around
8
billion
people.
If
those
200
billion
CPUs
currently
in
existence
were
all
distributed
equitably
by
persons—and
none
were
devoted
to
business,
government
or
scientific
applications—there
would
be
exactly
25
CPUs
serving
as
the
brain
of
the
computer
for
each
human
brain
on
the
planet.

This
prompts
a
key
question:
With
so
many
CPUs
in
operation,
how
are
they
all
being
used?

Seven
top
CPU
use
cases

With
CPUs,
we’re
talking
about
a
very
small
processor
chip,
and
yet
there’s
very
little
that
this
very
little
thing
cannot
do.
A
brief
survey
shows
which
industries
depend
the
most
heavily
on
CPUs:

Consumer
electronics

Many
of
the
world’s
most
profitable
companies—such
as
Apple—make
devices
for
the
consumer
electronics
industry.
The
rampant
demand
for
personal
computing
platforms
(like
smartphones,
laptops
and
gaming
consoles)
has
driven
a
massive
and
ongoing
expansion
of
CPU
use.
Beyond
that,
household
devices
blessed
with

Internet
of
Things
(IoT)
technology
means
that
CPUs
are
now
being
incorporated
into
refrigerators,
thermostats,
security
systems
and
more.

Data
analytics

The
goal
of
data
analytics
is
to
take
raw
data
and
refine
it
into
an
understandable
narrative
that
addresses
business
goals.
The
first
part
of
that
process
is
assembling
and
cleaning
the
data.
CPUs
are
instrumental
to
these
activities,
serving
as
the
primary
computer
processing
units.
In
addition,
the
high
clock
speeds
achieved
by
CPUs
make
them
perfectly
suited
to
handle
the
type
of
rapid-fire
scanning
and
retrieval
of
information
that
data
analytics
requires.

Defense
and
space

The
CPU
is
the
true
backbone
of
modern
defense
systems.
Any
country
that
desires
to
be
a
global
power
must
have
modern
computers
as
part
of
its
security
arsenal.
Likewise,
humankind’s
achievements
in
space
exploration
could
never
have
occurred
without
the
CPU
to
handle
the
awesome
computational
challenges
of
calculating
the
distance
and
routes
of
space
flights.
Space
poses
a
unique
challenge
for
computers,
which
must
be
radiation-hardened
to
withstand
powerful
solar
rays.

Financial
services

Like
data
analytics,
fintech
companies
depend
on
CPUs
to
enable
the
fast
and
efficient
processing
of
huge
amounts
of
financial-based
information.
By
running
advanced
analyses
on
such
data
and
then
applying
a
range
of
different
scenarios
to
that
data,
risk
management
systems
that
CPUs
enable
can
help
financial
institutions
reduce
losses.
CPUs
also
assist
that
effort
in
another
key
way—by
helping
flag
oddities
and
detecting
cases
of
fraud.

Healthcare

Nearly
every
type
of
industry
benefits
because
of
the
fast
speeds
CPUs
achieve,
but
none
as
importantly
as
healthcare,
where
lives
literally
hang
in
the
balance
and
timing
is
a
critical
concern.
Beyond
the
ability
to
quickly
shuttle
vital
patient
information
between
providers,
CPUs
can
be
used
to
help
automate
the
ordering
and
tracking
of
prescriptions
and
other
supplies.
Computers
can
also
both
create
pre-surgical
3D
models
of
organs
and
help
pathologists
study
illnesses.

Manufacturing

The
use
of
semiconductors
has
radically
changed
manufacturing,
synching
the
input
of
materials
and
improving
quality
control.
Manufacturing
is
also
being
revolutionized
by
computer-aided
manufacturing
(CAM),
where
CPU-driven
computer
systems
help
run
industrial
production
operations.
CAM
uses
direct
or
indirect
connections
that
exist
between
the
CPU
and
production
operations
to
schedule,
control
and
manage
manufacturing
activity.

Telecom

The
telecom
industry
offers
its
own
bread-and-butter
products—communication
technology
devices—but
also
assists
other
industries
in
important
ways.
Those
use
cases
include
enabling
digital
transactions
(for
the
financial
services
industry)
and
assisting
healthcare
by
supporting
robotic
surgeries
with
precision
capabilities
and
data
updates.
In
addition,
CPUs
are
essential
to
operating
autonomous
vehicles,
which
rely
on
telecom
signals
for
navigational
guidance.

Key
parts
of
the
CPU

Modern
CPUs
typically
contain
the
following
components:

• 
  Arithmetic/logic
  unit
  (ALU):
  Executes
  arithmetic
  and
  logical
  operations,
  including
  math
  equations
  and
  logic-based
  comparisons.
• 
  Buses:
  Manages
  proper
  data
  transfer
  and
  data
  flow
  between
  components
  within
  a
  computer
  system.
• 
  Control
  unit:
  Uses
  intensive
  circuitry
  that
  controls
  the
  computer
  system
  by
  issuing
  a
  system
  of
  electrical
  pulses
  and
  instructs
  the
  system
  to
  execute
  high-level
  computer
  instructions.
• 
  Instruction
  registers
  and
  pointer:
  Shows
  location
  of
  next
  instruction
  set
  to
  be
  executed
  by
  the
  CPU.
• 
  Memory
  unit:
  Manages
  memory
  usage
  and
  data
  flow
  between
  RAM
  and
  the
  CPU.
  The
  main
  memory
  unit
  supervises
  the
  handling
  of
  the
  cache
  memory.
• 
  Registers:
  Provides
  built-in
  permanent
  memory
  for
  constant,
  repeated
  data
  needs
  that
  must
  be
  administered
  regularly,
  without
  exception.

Important
CPU
concepts

To
be
fully
conversant
in
CPU
terminology,
it’s
helpful
to
understand
the
following
concepts:

Cache:
Storage
areas
whose
location
allows
users
to
quickly
access
data
that’s
been
in
recent
use.
Cache
memory
stores
data
in
areas
that
are
built
into
a
CPU’s
processor
chip
to
reach
data
retrieval
speeds
even
faster
than
random
access
memory
(RAM).

Clock
speed:
The
rate
of
activity
per
computer
clock
cycle.
The
internal
clock
built
into
computers
regulates
the
speed
and
frequency
of
computer
operations.
The
clock
manages
the
CPU’s
circuitry
through
the
transmittal
of
electrical
pulses.
The
delivery
rate
of
pulses
is
called
“clock
speed.”

Core:
The
processor
within
the
processor.
Cores
are
processing
units
that
read
and
execute
various
program
instructions.
Processors
are
classified
according
to
how
many
cores
are
embedded
into
them;
single-core,
dual-core
and
quad-core
processors
are
some
of
the
examples.
(The
term
“Intel
Core”
is
used
commercially
to
market
Intel’s
product
line
of
multi-core
CPUs.)

Threads:
The
shortest
sequences
of
programmable
instructions
that
an
operating
system’s
scheduler
can
manage
and
send
to
a
CPU
for
processing.
Through
multithreading,
the
use
of
multiple
threads
running
simultaneously,
various
computer
processes
can
be
run
concurrently,
supporting
multitasking.
(“Hyper-threading”
is
Intel’s
proprietary
term
for
its
form
of
multithreading.)

Top
CPU
manufacturers
and
products

The
two
major
companies
battling
for
control
of
this
ultra-lucrative
marketplace
are
Intel
and
Advanced
Micro
Devices
(AMD):

Intel

Markets
processors
and
microprocessors
through
four
product
lines:
Intel®
Core®
(high-end
premium
line),
Intel®
Xeon®
(office
and
business
use),
Intel®
Pentium®
(personal
computers
and
laptops),
and
Intel®Celeron®
(low-end,
low-cost
personal
computing
use).

Obviously,
different
chips
are
best
suited
to
certain
applications.
The
Intel®
Core
i5-13400F
is
a
good
desktop
processor
that
features
10
cores.
But
when
it
comes
to
a
processing-intensive
application
like
video
editing,
many
users
opt
for
the
Intel®
Core
i7
14700KF
20-Core,
28-thread
CPU.

Advanced
Micro
Devices
(AMD)

Sells
two
types
of
processors
and
microprocessors:
CPUs
and
APUs
(which
stands
for
accelerated
processing
units).
APUs
are
CPUs
that
are
equipped
with
proprietary
Radeon®
graphics.
AMD®
makes
high-speed,
high-performance
Ryzen®
processors
for
the
video-game
market.
The
AMD®
Ryzen®
7
5800X3D,
for
example,
features
a
3D
V-Cache
technology
that
helps
it
push
game
graphics
to
new
heights.

Athlon®
processors
used
to
be
considered
AMD’s
high-end
line,
but
AMD
now
uses
it
as
a
basic
computing
alternative.

Arm

Arm®
doesn’t
manufacture
equipment,
but
instead
leases
out
its
valued
processor
designs
and/or
other
proprietary
technologies
to
other
companies
who
do
make
equipment.

For
general-purpose
computing,
such
as
running
an
operating
system
like
Windows
and
using
multimedia
programs,
most
AMD
Ryzen®
or
Intel®
Core®
processors
can
handle
the
workloads
involved.

Ongoing
CPU
trends

Several
tangential
issues
will
continue
to
influence
CPU
development
and
the
use
cases
for
which
they
are
utilized
in
coming
years:

Increased
use
of
GPUs:

Graphics
processing
units
(GPUs)
are
an
electronic
circuit
first
developed
for
use
in
smartphone
and
video
game
consoles.
Their
use
is
about
driving
processing
speeds,
so
in
addition
to
accelerating
graphics
cards,
GPUs
are
being
used
in
processing-intensive
pursuits
like
cryptocurrency
mining
and
the
training
of

neural
networks.

The
drive
to
miniaturize:
The
history
of
computer
hardware
has
been
a
quest
to
make
computer
processors
smaller.
Early
computers
required
vast
floor
space
and
vacuum
tubes.
Then,
CPUs
became
smaller
and
more
efficient
with
the
introduction
of
transistors.
Later,

computer
scientists
created
a
CPU
called
the

microprocessor
that
could
be
held
within
a
small
integrated
circuit
chip.
The
drive
to
make
processors
smaller
will
continue
unabated
as
long
as
there
are
consumers
and
businesses
who
want
more
processing
power
and
faster
speed.

Peripheral
proliferation:
Peripheral
devices
help
optimize
and
increase
the
functionality
of
computing.
Peripherals
can
be
attached
to
the
outside
of
a
computer
and
include
devices
like
keyboards,
mice,
scanners
and
printers.
Expect
to
see
more
peripherals
created
in
response
to
ongoing
customer
demand.

Sustainability
issues:
Moving
forward,
matters
of
power
consumption
will
become
increasingly
important.
Companies
will
become
more
focused
on
energy-efficient
solutions
as
energy
costs
rise.
When
CPU
use
increases
on
a
grand
scale—like
in

hyperscale
data
centers,
with
thousands
of
linked
computers
working
around
the
clock,
the
energy
used
is
often
measured
in
gigahertz
(GHz)—which
is
comparable
to
the
entire
energy
consumption
of
villages
or
small
towns.

Forecasting
future
CPU
growth

In
its

2022–2028
processor
revenue
forecast,
analyst
group
Yole
Intelligence
calculated
that
the
total
processor
market
in
2022
was
worth
$154
billion.
That
total
figure
included
the
following
processor
segments
and
their
respective
worths:

• 
  Central
  processing
  units
  (CPUs):
  USD
  65
  billion
• 
  Application
  processing
  units
  (APUs):
  USD
  61
  billion
• 
  Graphics
  processing
  units
  (GPUs):
  USD
  22
  billion
• 
  SoC
  FPGA:
  USD
  2.6
  billion
  (SoC
  FPGA
  stands
  for
  “system-on-chip
  
  field
  programmable
  gate
  array,”
  which
  are
  semiconductor-based
  devices
  that
  incorporate
  programmable
  logic
  into
  processor
  cores.)
• 
  AI
  ASICs:
  USD
  1.5
  billion
  (AI
  ASICs
  stands
  for
  “application-specific
  integrated
  circuits,”
  specifically
  those
  related
  to
  
  artificial
  intelligence.)
• 
  Data
  processing
  units
  (DPUs):
  USD
  0.6
  billion

In
its
2028
projections,
you
can
see
how
Yole’s
experts
expect
certain
segments
to
grow,
namely
AI
and
DPUs.
Yole
anticipates
an
8%
total
yearly
growth,
leading
to
an
expected
2028
total
value
of
USD
242
billion,
based
on
these
figures:

1. 
   CPUs:
   USD
   97
   billion
2. 
   APUs:
   USD
   65
   billion
3. 
   GPUs:
   USD
   55
   billion
4. 
   AI
   ASICs:
   USD
   11
   billion
5. 
   DPUs:
   USD
   8.1
   billion
6. 
   SoC
   FPGAs:
   USD
   5.2
   billion

In
addition
to
substantial
market
growth
in
AI
ASICs
and
DPUs,
Yole
Intelligence’s
forecast
shows
nearly
identical
growth
for
CPUs
and
GPUs
during
the
same
period,
with
growth
predictions
of
USD
32
billion
and
USD
33
billion
respectively.
These
projections
also
demonstrate
the
ongoing
centrality
of
CPUs,
since
this
category
leads
all
others
now
and
will
continue
to
do
so
in
the
future,
according
to
Yole
Intelligence.

Take
the
next
step

With
over
200
billion
CPUs
in
current
operation,
it’s
reasonable
to
conclude
that
CPUs
are
here
to
stay—very
probably
a
permanent
part
of
the
human
condition
moving
forward.
But
it’s
also
a
safe
bet
that
the
CPU
will
continue
to
be
further
developed
and
refined,
to
keep
maxing
out
its
utility
for
high-performance
systems
and
the
new,
graphics-rich
computer
programs
they
run.

That’s
why
it’s
smart
to
invest
wisely
when
purchasing
the
associated
equipment
needed
to
execute
computing
objectives.
It’s
important
to
have
hardware
that
can
keep
pace
with
modern
CPUs.
IBM
servers
offer
flexibility
in
addition
to
strength,
so
you
can
get
the
processing
power
you
need
now,
along
with
room
to
grow
in
the
future.

Explore
IBM
servers