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As in the lowest level pure electronics stuff, what the manual would describe as non-user serviceable parts.
I'm doing a spot of writing and am trying to describe the flow of electrons though the CPU but I have no idea where power actually enters a CPU. It strikes me that there has to be a single point where it's all flowing through and thats the name I need. I'm calling it a Master Gate as a filler but thats kind of crap
Anyone know? 5 shiny rep points to the first correct answer
Post edited October 13, 2009 by Aliasalpha
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It depends on the CPU and/or the socket it is installed (like LGA 775, AM2...).
And at least two of those pins on your CPU should be V+ and GND.
Post edited October 13, 2009 by ThermioN
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ThermioN: It depends on the CPU and/or the socket it is installed (like LGA 775, AM2...).
And at least two of those pins on your CPU should be V+ and GND.

Although it's been many years since I studied this subject, you're pretty much on the ball : of the many pins on an IC chip (Integrated Circuit), one (or maybe more, sometimes - depends on the chip and its multiple voltage needs) is +ve voltage, and one is ground or neutral. The rest of the many pins are data in/out.
Each chip will use different pins, and you'll need a "pin out" diagram of the relevant chip, to see which does what.
yes, most of the pins on a modern CPU serve only as some sort of connection between the FSB/QPi, North/South-Bridge, RAM and PCI,AGP or PCIe lanes and the CPU.
Post edited October 13, 2009 by ThermioN
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ThermioN: It depends on the CPU and/or the socket it is installed (like LGA 775, AM2...).
And at least two of those pins on your CPU should be V+ and GND.

Thats pretty much exactly what I figured but does it have a formal name like main power supply or something or is it just identified by the V+ & GND?
it's not really one single "power supply", beacause you might need several input voltages to keep the CPU running. A formal name would be something like input- or operational voltage. usually the pins themself got names like V+, GND or whatever.
The flow of electrons through the CPU?
I don't really understand the question.
There is a CPU Core Voltage, denoted V_CORE which is in technical terms simply the power supply voltage supplied to the CPU. Don't mix voltage with the movement of electrons; voltage is a hypothetical energy potential. Naturally the CPU also draws a small current and therefore there is an actual electron flow in the digital circuit that makes up the CPU due to the current I_CORE drawn.
In addition, the CPU will receive a set of instructions (the instruction set) telling it what to do, as well as having access to data to perform the instructions on. This is all stored in various registers. The CPU busies itself completing the incoming instructions - passing it through the instruction pipeline.
The actual physical position of inputs and outputs depend on the socket design. Sockets are designed for CPUs, not the other way around.
Post edited October 13, 2009 by stonebro
Bumping to the top so it doesn't get forgotten.
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Lone3wolf: Bumping to the top so it doesn't get forgotten.

Yes because this thread is something that should be general knowledge on a gaming site, that all people who visit the forum should read and understand. <shakes head in disbelief>
Also may want to read the code of conduct. http://www.gog.com/en/support/website_help/forums_feedback
Don't spam or troll. Posting in topics or threads for the sole purpose of flooding and causing unrest on the forums, “bumping” existing topics or creating forum petitions won't be tolerated;
Post edited October 14, 2009 by Sielle
Intel publishes "CPU Application Guide"s for all of its processors, that have the pinouts, the instruction set, virtual memory programming, the terminology, and more technical stuff than you'd ever want to know without being a motherboard designer. Your local library should have them, or I believe they are available as PDF files if you send Intel an email.
I read the 486 version way back around the time it was released, and back when I was weird enough to enjoy that type of thing. (Whereas now I'm totally normal (ahem)).
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Sielle: Yes because this thread is something that should be general knowledge on a gaming site, that all people who visit the forum should read and understand. <shakes head in disbelief>

I personally have no problem with him posting it here, as classic gaming is a prime interest of techies. So though not "all people" who visit here will understand the post or know the answer, there's likely to be somebody who does. Also, it's often better to discuss things in places you actually hang out than go join yet another forum for one particular question.
.02
Post edited October 14, 2009 by barleyguy