slr2 - types of processor Flashcards
What is an instruction set
A collection of instructions that can be recognized and executed by a processor
What are the 2 types of instruction set
CISC - Complex Instruction Set Computer
RISC - Reduced Instruction Set Computer
What is the goal of CISC
Complete the task in the fewest lines of assembly possible
Which type of instruction set means that the processor must be more complex
CISC
Which instruction set requires the compiler to do more work
RISC
Which instruction set may require multiple cycles to execute an instruction
CISC
Where is the CISC architecture normally found
Desktops and Laptops
What is the goal of RISC
Use simple instructions that can all be executed in a single cycle
Why does RISC require the compiler to do more work
It uses more lines of assembly
Which architecture requires less complex hardware
RISC
What is a coprocessor
An additional processor used for a specialised task
What is the role of a coprocessor
Improve the overall speed of the computer by executing at the same time as the CPU
Why are GPUs suited for processing parallel streams of data
They uses a SIMD architecture and lots of cores
Why do GPUs run slower than CPUs despite the fact that they have thousands of stream processors
They are designed to perform single calculations on different pieces of data
When are CPUs better than GPUs
When performing complex operations on small data sets
When are GPUs better than CPUs
When performing simple operations on large data sets
Give some examples of common computing tasks performed on GPUs
Oil exploration
Weather Modelling
Machine Learning
Linear Algebra
Statistical Analysis
Crypto Mining
What is a multicore processor
A single chip that contains 2 or more independent processing units
What are the 2 main factors that affect the speed of a CMP
Size of cache shared between cores
Inter-core communication
What is parallel processing
The process of dividing instructions between multiple cores
How can parallel processing be achieved
Each core is assigned a different stage of the fetch decode execute cycle
What is an input device
Any device that allows you to pass information to a computer
What is an output device
Any device that can take data stored in a physical form and convert it into a format that humans can understand
What are the 3 main types of storage device
Magnetic
Solid-state
Optical
What are the advantages of optical storage
Cheap
Lightweight
Portable
What are the disadvantages of optical storage
Slow access times
Prone to scratches
What are the advantages of magnetic storage
Cheap
Large capacity
What are the disadvantages of magnetic storage
Slow access time
Fragile due to moving parts
What are the advantages of solid-state storage
Durable
Fast read/write times
