Unit 1.1.2: Types of Processors Flashcards
What is the ‘stored program concept’?
It is a program that must be loaded into main memory to be executed by the processor, while each instruction is fetched one at a time, decoded and executed sequentially by the processor. The sequence of instructions can only be changed by a conditional or unconditional ‘jump’ instruction.
Compare the two examples of ‘stored program concepts’
With the Von Neumann architecture, instructions and data are stored in a common main memory and transferred using a single shared bus.
Whereas with the Harvard architecture, this alternate model separates the data and instructions into separate memories using different buses. Program instructions and data are no longer competing for the same bus.
Compare ‘CISC’ and ‘RISC’ instruction sets.
With the ‘Complex Instruction Set Computers’ (CISC), a large instruction set is used to accomplish tasks in as few lines of assembly language as possible. A CISC instruction combines a ‘load/store’ instruction with the instruction that carries out the actual calculation.
Whereas with the ‘Reduced Instruction Set Computers’ (RISC), a minimum number of very simple instructions, each taking one clock cycle, are used to accomplish all the required operations in multiple general purpose registers.
What is a multi-core processor?
Multi-core processors are able to distribute workload across multiple processor cores, thus achieving significantly higher performance by performing several tasks, ‘in parallel’ (so they may also be known as parallel systems).
Give and describe an example that uses parallel processing.
A browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, can run several concurrent processes.
This occurs using tabbed browsers, where different cores can work simultaneously, processing requests, showing videos or running software in different windows.
What is a co-processor system, and where may it be used?
A co-processor is an extra processor used to supplement the functions of the primary processor (the CPU).
It may be used to perform floating-point arithmetic, graphics processing, digital signal processing; it generally carries out only a limited range of functions.
What is a GPU?
A ‘Graphics Processing Unit’ (GPU) is a specialised electronic circuit which is very efficient at manipulating computer graphics and image processing.
In a PC, a GPU may be present on a graphics card. How does the GPU complement the way a video game is able to function effectively?
The GPU comprises of thousands of small efficient cores designed for parallel processing, so it can process large blocks of visual data simultaneously.
The GPU is only 10% of the application code, with the CPU also sharing a fragment of this code. What can this complementary function of the GPU and the CPU achieve?
When the GPU and the CPU act together, it can accelerate in scientific, engineering and other applications, though they are used in numerous devices ranging from mobile phones and tablets to cars, drones and robots.
