What is the difference between processor (CPU) and microprocessor?

Question

15.1k views Asked by user3035481 At 18 December 2013 at 05:10

what is the difference between "processor (CPU)" and "microprocessor" in the sense of computer architecture? These terms confuse me.

There are 1 answers

**oakad** · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-18 05:30:39

The difference is purely historical. In the old days of lore, the CPU used to sit in a separate enclosure, like here:

Processor (CPU) unit of a Vax 11/750

A microprocessor is a particular implementation of processor which happens to fit in a single electronic component (chip) package:

PowerPC 601 microprocessor

Clearly, nowadays all processors are microprocessors, so the distinction is completely blurred.