A CPU can execute a theoretically unlimited number of instructions.
The number of instructions a CPU can execute depends on several factors:
- Instruction Set Architecture (ISA): Each CPU has a specific set of instructions it understands, defined by its ISA.
- Clock Speed: The speed at which the CPU operates, measured in Hertz (Hz), determines how many instructions it can process per second.
- Program Size: The number of instructions in a program dictates the total number of instructions executed.
- Memory: The amount of memory available influences the number of instructions that can be loaded and processed.
For example, a CPU with a clock speed of 3 GHz can execute 3 billion instructions per second. However, the actual number of instructions executed will vary depending on the complexity of the program and the efficiency of the CPU.
In practice, the number of instructions a CPU can execute is limited by the program's size and the available memory.
