Intro

Question 1

Explain what is a microprocessor (5)

Answer 1

1.Accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its
memory, and provides results as output.

2.Don’t have RAM, ROM, and other peripheral on the chip.

3.Memory , I/O and other components need to be connected externally.

4.Cannot be used in compact systems.

5.Power Consumption is High.

Question 2

explain what is microcontroller (6)

Answer 2

1.Comprises of CPU, in addition with a fixed amount of RAM, ROM and other

2.peripherals all embedded on a single chip.

3.Also termed as a mini computer or a computer on a single chip.

4.Designed to perform specific tasks.

5.Requires small resources like RAM, ROM, I/O ports etc. and hence can be embedded
on a single chip.

6.Reduces the size and the cost.

Question 3

How to classify microprocessor/ basic characteristics of microprocessor

Answer 3

Instruction set: The set of instructions that the microprocessor can execute.

Bandwidth : The number of bits processed in a single instruction.

Clock Speed : How many instructions per second the processor can execute.
Given in megahertz (MHz),

Question 4

Explain CISC architecture

Answer 4

Philosophy – to simplify the code and make it shorter in order to reduce the memory requirement.

Architecture:
–variable length instruction sets with many formats.
– allowed values in memory to be used as operands in data processing instructions.
–A 2-operand instruction format
–Register sets were getting larger, but none was as large as RISC and most processors had different registers for different purposes.

Organization:
–Microprogrammed control instruction decode logic.
It was easier to implement and less expensive.
– allowed little, if any, overlap between consecutive instructions.
The ease of microcoding new instructions allowed designers to make CISC machines upwardly compatible
–May take many clock cycles to complete a single instruction.
Microprogram instruction sets can be written to match the constructs of high-level languages, the compiler does not have to be complicated.
–Pentium is considered a modern CISC processor.

Question 5

Explain RISC architecture

Answer 5

Architecture
–A fixed (32-bit).
–A load-store architecture where instructions that process data, operate only on registers and are
separate from instructions that access memory.
–A large register bank (thirty-two 32-bit registers).
–Instruction size with few formats.

RISC Organization
–Hard-wired instruction decode logic (design of the control unit).
–Pipelined execution.
–Single-cycle execution.

RISC Advantages
–A smaller die size.
–A shorter development time.
–A higher performance.

RISC Drawbacks
–Poor code density.
–Do not execute x86 code.