[Crusader]

Ok thanks, i might try this but it was more of an interesting question i wanted answered. Thanks for all your help despite my poor communication due to my lack of knowledge on the subject.
Cheers

[Apokalipse]

the only kind of memory a microprocessor usually has is its cache, which is a very short-term memory.
the cache is made to store instructions before the CPU processes them (like when it is busy doing something else)
it is used, because it is much faster to retrieve them from cache than from anywhere else in the PC.

the only real programmable piece of hardware on the PC is the CMOS (complenemtary metal-oxide semiconductor) which stores settings for the BIOS (Basic Input Output System)

the BIOS is a chip on the motherboard which controls a lot of the PC's workings

[office politics]

Originally posted by apokalipse
the only kind of memory a microprocessor usually has is its cache, which is a very short-term memory.
the cache is made to store instructions before the CPU processes them (like when it is busy doing something else)

from my studies, this is not true. a microprocessor uses registers to store values. a microprocessor uses a cache to store instructions, like you said, but its not a part of the MP itself. The instructions will typically read the data in a register, have the MP manipulate the data, and store the data into a register. a microprocessor has hard coded instructions inside of itself. these include boot operations, I/O operations, arithmetic operations, etc.

[Apokalipse]

ah, I forgot about the registers....
that's one thing about PC's. there's so much to know about them, sometimes I forget what I know.....

[TheHeadFL]

Registers *are* cache, specifically L1 cache.