A laptop CPU on a motherboard with a copper heatsink, illustrating modern processor architecture

CPU Architecture Explained: Cores, Caches, and How Modern Processors Work

A clear, in-depth guide to how modern CPUs work — from transistors and ISA to microarchitecture, hybrid cores, SoCs, chiplets, and NPUs.

October 7, 2026 · Updated: October 24, 2026 · 31 min · barqal