The fetch–execute cycle is the process the CPU uses to run instructions.

1. The processor sets up the address bus with the required address
2. The processor activates the read line on the control bus
3. An instruction is fetched from the memory location using the data bus and stored in the instruction register
4. The instruction in the instruction register is decoded and executed

• Number of cores
  • More cores allow multiple instructions to be processed at the same time
  • Improves multitasking and overall performance
• Width of data bus
  • Determines how many bits can be transferred at once
  • Wider bus = more data transferred per cycle
• Cache memory
  • Small, fast memory inside the CPU
  • Stores frequently used data and instructions
  • Reduces fetched from slower main memory
• Clock speed
  • Measured in Hz
  • Higher clock speed = more (fetch-execute) cycles per second