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
