SLR 2 Flashcards
Types of processor
What’s the definition of an instruction set?
Set of all instructions written in machine code that can be recognised and executed by a given processing unit/CPU
What is CISC?
Complex Instruction Set Computer
What is RISC?
Reduced Instruction Set Computer
What is the execution unit?
Carries out all calculations
Can only operate on data loaded into one of six registers
What does CISC aim to do?
It aims to complete the task in as few lines as possible (with the lines being longer)
The circuitry also needs to be more complicated
What does RISC aim to do?
Aims to use more simple instructions that can be executed within a single clock cycle (meaning more lines which are much shorter)
What is a co-processor?
Any additional processor used for a specialised task
What is a co-processor’s purpose?
To improve the overall speed of the computer by executing cocurrently with the main CPU
What’s the difference between CPU’s and GPU’s?
GPU’s run slower than a standard CPU as CPU’s are more well rounded while GPU’s are more specialised for certain tasks
Basically: CPU’s are good for small data sets
GPU’s are good for large data sets
What are some tasks that GPU’s are made to perform?
Oil exploration
Weather modelling
Machine learning
Linear algebra
Statistical analysis
Stock option predictions
Gravitational field theory
What is a multicore processor?
A single chip containing two or more independent processing units
Each core has a FDE cycle
What is Parallel Processing?
The processing of program instructions by dividing them between multiple processors or processor cores
