1.1.2

Instruction set

A set of instructions in machine code to be executed by a given CPU.

CISC

(Complex Instruction Set Computer) Aims to complete the task in as few lines of code as possible using a larger instruction set.

RISC

(Reduced Instruction Set Computer) Uses simpler instructions that can be executed in a single clock cycle.

CISC advantages over RISC (3)

• Fewer lines of code

• Makes more efficient use of RAM

• More addressing modes

RISC advantages over CISC (3)

• Smaller energy consumption

• Can make use of pipelining

• Physically smaller

Co-processors

Any additional processor used for specialised tasks.

GPU

(Graphical Processing Unit) A specialised co-processor designed for parallel processing, mainly used for rendering graphics.

Multicore system

Has more than one processing unit in a single processor which can independently process instructions at the same time.

CMP

(Chip multiprocessor) Multiple cores integrated onto a single chip

Parallel processing

The processing of program instructions by dividing them between multiple processors or processor cores.

GPU compared to CPU (3)

• GPU is made up of more simpler cores

• GPU is more optimised for parallel tasks

• GPU can efficiently execute simpler instructions on many data points simultaneously

GPGPU

(General Purpose Computing on GPU) The use of a GPU to perform tasks normally handled by the CPU.

Uses of GPU

• Graphical rendering

• Machine learning

• Statistical analysis