YEAR 1 CO1 WEEK 7 TYPES OF PROCESSORS Flashcards
What does RISC stand for and what does it do?
Reduced Instruction Set Conputer.
More instructions but reduced number of cycles that instructions takes to perform.
What does CISC stand for and what does it do?
Complex Instruction Set Computer.
Reduces the number if instructions program has by combining many simple ones Into one single complex one.
Reduces amount of work complier has to do as instructions themselves very high level require little translation into machine code.
Instruction small require little space in RAM.
Clock speed slower more things to do in single instruction.
State the three types of Parallel Processing.
Pipelining
Array Processing
Multi-Core
What is Pipelining?
This is where this cycle is staggered into multiple hardware processing paths within the CPU called a ‘pipeline’.
What is Array Processing?
You can arrange data into an array (2D array).
Has a number of ALUs that allow all elements of an array to be processed at same time.
What is meant by Multiple Processors?
Next level of Parallel Processing is to have multiple instructions acting upon multiple data sets.
Achieved by having number of CPUs applied to single problem, with each CPU carrying out part of overall problem.
Disadvantages of Parallel Processing.
Only works on certain types of data which do not rely on previous operation.
Often expensive on hardware side.
Multiple processing blocks needed (applies to all three methods.)
Advantages of Parallel Processing.
Makes maximum use of CPU (pipelining).
Faster when handling large amounts of data, each data set requiring the same processing (array + multi core method).
Not limited by bus transfer rate.
What is a Co Processor?
Designed to carry out floating point calculations extremely fast and works with CPU on mother board.
When CPU has a task like this sent to Co processor and does something else until its done.
State Advantages and Disadavantages of Co Processor.
Calculations done much faster.
More expensive, requires more motherboard space and takes more power.
Has limited range of function.
What is a GPU and state its function.
A Graphics Processing Unit which is designed to handle graphics and video much faster than the CPU itself.
Has instruction sets which relate specifically to graphics processing.
What happens when application makes intense use of graphics or video?
CPU sends these tasks to GPU and continues to process other tasks.
Many graphics tasks run in parallel di GPU issues single instruction act upon many pixels at same time.
State issues with GPUs.
Graphics cards can be expensive.
Do not improve CPU performance on all tasks, only ones related to graphics and videos.
Uses alot of power which might mean computer needs to be fitted with a more powerful power supply.
As graphics cards use lots of power need cooling fan which can be very noisy.
