1.1.2 Types of processor Flashcards
CISC vs RISC
What is CISC?
Complex Instruction Set Computing
Has single instructions for complicated processes
Requires multiple machine cycles for each instruction
Example of Von Neumann architecture
CISC vs RISC
What is RISC?
Reduced Instruction Set Computing
Multiple instructions are required for complicated processes
Each instruction is carried out in a single machine cycle
Example of Harvard architecture
CISC vs RISC
Compare 7 factors of CISC and RISC
CISC: single instruction for more complicated processes
RISC: multiple instructions for more complicated processes
CISC: requires multiple machine cycles per instruction
RISC: requires a single machine cycle per instruction
CISC: less memory heavy
RISC: uses lots of registers, requiring more RAM
CISC: requires more complicated hardware
RISC: uses simpler hardware
CISC: supports simpler coding
RISC: requires more complicated coding
CISC: Von Neumann architecture
RISC: Harvard architecture
CISC: doesn’t support pipelining
RISC: supports pipelining
Graphical Processing Units
What is a co-processor?
Co-processors were developed to run alongside CPUs
It is any additional processor used for a specialised task, to improve the speed of performance of the computer
Graphical Processing Units
Describe a GPU
A Graphical Processing Unit was originally produced to render graphics
Run slower than CPUs, though are highly specialized
Easily run a single instruction over a lot of data using SIMD processing
Graphical Processing Units
How do GPUs and CPUs differ in the tasks they perform?
CPUs excel at complex tasks on small data sets
GPUs excel at simple tasks on large data sets
Graphical Processing Units
What is SIMD processing?
Single Instruction, Multiple Data
GPUs use it to perform single simple instructions on lots of data
Multicore and parallel processors
What is a multicore processor, and how does it work?
A single CMP (Chip Multicore Processor) containing two or more independent processing units / cores
Each core performs CPU instructions
Multicore and parallel processors
Give two possible features of a multicore processor
Shared local cache memory
An inter-core communication system
Multicore and parallel processors
What is parallel processing?
The processing of program instructions by dividing them between multiple cores or processors
Multicore and parallel processors
What features and drawbacks are associated with parallel processing?
Can use pipelining
Speed depends on the task, such as if it is designed to be run through parallel processing
Von Neumann and Harvard architecture
What are the features of Von Neumann architecture in comparison to Harvard architecture?
Von Neumann: instructions and data share memory space
Harvard: instructions and data are stored in separate memory locations
Von Neumann: both use the same buses
Harvard: each uses their own buses
Von Neumann: only one instruction or data can be fetched or written at a time
Harvard: data can be read and written as instructions are being fetched
Von Neumann and Harvard architecture
What are the features of Von Neumann architecture?
Instructions and data share memory space
They use the same buses and are stored in the same format
Each processor follows a linear fetch-execute cycle one instruction at a time
Registers provide fast access to data and instructions
Von Neumann and Harvard architecture
What are the features of Harvard architecture?
Instructions and data are stored in separate memory locations
Each uses its own set of buses
Data an be read and written as instructions are being fetched
