TYPES OF PROCESSOR

Question 1

What is CISC?

Answer 1

• complex instruction set computing
• large instruction set used to accomplish tasks in as few lines of assembly language as possible
• many complex instructions, some of which can perform several operations in one instruction (e.g., loading data, performing arithmetic, and storing results)

Question 2

What is RISC?

Answer 2

• reduced instruction set computing
• uses a small, simple set of instructions that are executed very quickly
• limited number of instructions, with each instruction designed to do one simple task

Question 3

Advs of CISC

Answer 3

• fewer instructions: complex instructions can perform multiple tasks in one, reducing the number of instructions needed
• smaller program size: since each instruction can do more work, programs tend to be smaller in size
• memory efficiency: CISC reduces the need for multiple memory accesses because one instruction can handle several operations
• easier to program: the rich instruction set makes it easier for programmers to write code that requires fewer lines

Question 4

Disadvs of CISC

Answer 4

• slower execution: complex instructions take longer to decode and execute, which can reduce overall performance
• difficult to pipeline: the varied length and complexity of instructions make it harder to implement efficient pipelining

Question 5

Advs of RISC

Answer 5

• faster execution: simple instructions can be executed in one clock cycle, improving speed
• easier pipelining: each instruction takes the same amount of time (1 clock cycle) which allows for more efficient pipelining, increasing performance
• simpler control unit: with fewer instructions, the control unit is less complex, making it easier to design

Question 6

Disadvs of RISC

Answer 6

• larger code size: simple instructions mean more instructions are needed to perform complex tasks, resulting in larger programs
• more memory accesses: since operations are performed on registers, there are more frequent load and store operations, which can slow down performance

Question 7

Compare CISC and RISC processors

Answer 7

• CISC has a large, complex instruction set whereas RISC has a small, simple instruction set.
• CISC instructions have variable length while RISC instructions have a fixed length.
• CISC may take multiple cycles per instruction while RISC typically executes in one cycle.
• CISC can access memory directly in instructions whereas RISC uses a load/store model for memory access.
• CISC is harder to pipeline due to complex instructions whilst RISC is easier to pipeline with simple, uniform instructions.
• CISC tends to have smaller code size however RISC usually requires more instructions, leading to larger code.

Question 8

What is a GPU?

Answer 8

processor designed to quickly render images and handle tasks that require parallel processing, like graphics, video, and complex calculations

Question 9

What are the uses of a GPU?

Answer 9

• graphics rendering: used to render images, videos, and animations in games and applications.
• parallel processing: performs multiple calculations at once, making it ideal for tasks like scientific simulations and machine learning.
• video playback: accelerates video decoding and streaming for smoother playback.
• machine learning: speeds up the training of models by handling large datasets and complex calculations.
• cryptocurrency mining: used to solve complex mathematical problems in cryptocurrency mining.