knowt logo

types of processor


1.1.2 a) CISC and RISC architectures

Complex Instruction Set Computing

Reduced Instruction Set Computing

used in laptops/desktop computers

used in smartphones and embedded systems

complex hardware

simple hardware

large number of complex instructions, variable lengths

smaller number of simple, standardised instructions, fixed length

multiple machine/clock cycles per instruction

single machine cycle per instruction

larger, more complex circuitry, requires more silicone to produce, therefore more expensive

smaller, less complex circuitry, less silicone required, typically cheaper to produce

greater energy consumption

lower energy requirements

can't support  pipelining

can support pipelining

compiler has to do less work

compiler has to do more work

small code sizes, higher cycles per second

larger code sizes, lower cycles per second

makes more efficient use of RAM

heavier use of RAM (risks bottlenecks if RAM is limited)

multiple addressing modes available

fewer addressing modes available


1.1.2 b) GPUs

a graphics processing unit (GPU) is a a type of co-processor which (unlike CPUs) has lots of independent processors which work in parallel making it very efficient at completing repetitive tasks such as image processing and machine learning

  • highly specialised

  • made of thousands of stream processors

  • SIMD structure


1.1.2 c) multi-core and parallel systems

multi-core systems:

a multi-core processor is a single chip with multiple independent cores that can complete instructions separately which results in higher performance

parallel processing:

parallel processing is the process of dividing instructions between multiple processors or processor cores, to be executed simultaneously

types of processor


1.1.2 a) CISC and RISC architectures

Complex Instruction Set Computing

Reduced Instruction Set Computing

used in laptops/desktop computers

used in smartphones and embedded systems

complex hardware

simple hardware

large number of complex instructions, variable lengths

smaller number of simple, standardised instructions, fixed length

multiple machine/clock cycles per instruction

single machine cycle per instruction

larger, more complex circuitry, requires more silicone to produce, therefore more expensive

smaller, less complex circuitry, less silicone required, typically cheaper to produce

greater energy consumption

lower energy requirements

can't support  pipelining

can support pipelining

compiler has to do less work

compiler has to do more work

small code sizes, higher cycles per second

larger code sizes, lower cycles per second

makes more efficient use of RAM

heavier use of RAM (risks bottlenecks if RAM is limited)

multiple addressing modes available

fewer addressing modes available


1.1.2 b) GPUs

a graphics processing unit (GPU) is a a type of co-processor which (unlike CPUs) has lots of independent processors which work in parallel making it very efficient at completing repetitive tasks such as image processing and machine learning

  • highly specialised

  • made of thousands of stream processors

  • SIMD structure


1.1.2 c) multi-core and parallel systems

multi-core systems:

a multi-core processor is a single chip with multiple independent cores that can complete instructions separately which results in higher performance

parallel processing:

parallel processing is the process of dividing instructions between multiple processors or processor cores, to be executed simultaneously