1.1.2 Types of processor

Question 1

Complex Instruction Set Computers (CISC)

Answer 1

• instructions may take multiple clock cycles to execute
• larger instruction set
• difficult to pipeline
• more addressing modes
• complex circuitry/more transistors.
• uses less RAM

Question 2

Reduces Instruction Set Computers (RISC)

Answer 2

• instructions take one clock cycle to
  execute
• smaller instruction set
• easier to pipeline
• fewer addressing modes
• less complex/simple circuitry
• uses more RAM

Question 3

What is a GPU?

Answer 3

• Specialised electronic circuit which is very efficient at manipulating computer graphics and image processing.
• Many independent processors work in parallel to complete repetitive tasks efficiently and simultaneously.
• A type of co-processor => offloads compute-intensive parts of an application from CPU to GPU => performance is slightly better

Question 4

Multi-Core Systems

Answer 4

Multiple independent cores are able to fetch, decode and execute instructions at the same time

Question 5

Parallel Systems

Answer 5

Allows multiple separate instructions/FDE cycles to run concurrently