1.1.2. Types of Processor: Characteristics of Contemporary Processors: Computer Science A-Level OCR

What does RISC mean?

Reduced Instruction Set Computer

What does CISC mean?

Complex Instruction Set Computer

What are the properties of RISC?

- Small instruction set

- Each instruction is one line of machine code

- Used in everyday devices

What are the properties of CISC?

- A large instruction set

- Instructions are built into hardware

- Used in embedded systems and microprocessors

What are the benefits of RISC processors?

Pipelining is possible since each instruction takes one clock cycle.

What are the benefits of CISC processors?

- Compilers have to do less work.

- They require less RAM since instructions are smaller.

What is a graphics processing unit?

A co-processor made up of lots of independent parallel processors.

What are GPUs used for now?

GPUs are used for image processing and machine learning.

What are multi-core systems?

Systems where there are multiple cores that separate fetch-execute cycles.

What are parallel systems?

Systems where multiple instructions can be completed at any given time, doesn’t require multiple cores, it can use threading and pipelining instead.