Basic design of microcomputer

Central Processing Unit (CPU) - is the "brains" of the computer. It controls the other
components by deciding what to do next.

Registers - are temporary storage areas that retain their information between
instructions. They usually hold 16, 32 or 64 bits of information.
Control unit - is the unit responsible for directing the other units inside the
CPU. It usually interprets instructions after they have been loaded.
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) - performs arithmetic and logic operations on
values in the internal registers. It performs operations such as addition,
multiplications, logical AND, etc.
Interface unit - provides the external interface to the CPU. It performs the
necessary operations to access memory and the I/O subsystem.
Internal bus - connect the CPU's internal components. It is usually quite
different to the computer's main bus as it is designed to work much faster.

Memory - is the part of the program that temporarily stores data and instruction for
the CPU.
I/O Subsystem - is the part of the computer that interacts with the outside world. If
a computer did not have an I/O system then it would not be useful for anything.
Bus - is the "wires" that connect the other three parts of the computer together.
Buses are collections of wires that are individually either on or off (0 or 1).
Everything connected to the bus sees the same status for each wire.

X86 modes processors

Protected Mode - is an operational mode of x86-compatible central
processing units (CPUs). It allows system software to use features such as virtual
memory, paging and safe multi-tasking designed to increase an operating system's
control over application software.
Real-address Mode - is an operating mode of all x86-compatible CPUs. Real
mode provides no support for memory protection, multitasking, or code privilege
levels.
System Management Mode - is an operating mode of x86 central processor
units (CPUs) in which all normal execution, including the operating system, is

suspended and special separate software, which is usually part of the firmware or a
hardware-assisted debugger, is executed with high privileges.

Different types of register

Memory Address Register (MAR) - It stores address of data or instructions to

be fetched from memory.

Memory Buffer Register (MBR) - It stores instruction and data received from
the memory and sent from the memory.

Instruction Register (IR) - Instructions are stored in instruction register. When

one instruction is completed, next instruction is fetched in memory for
processing.

Program Counter (PC) - It counts instructions.