1.2 Types of processors

• CISC ->

  • CISC stands for Complex Instruction Set Computer.
  • CISC processors have a large instruction set built into it.
• CISC instruction set ->

  • The large instruction set allows programmers of assembly language to use fewer instructions as the instruction set built-in would deal with the additional needed steps.
  • Most of the built-in instructions are made up of multiple simple instructions.
  • Only about 20% of the built-in instructions were used in the average program.
• RISC ->

  • RISC stands for Reduced Instruction Set Computer.
  • A RISC processor has a small number of essential instructions built-in.
  • Each of these instructions can be completed in a single clock cycle.
  • This reduced instruction set means assembly programmers have to code more lines of code to achieve more complex results.
• CISC vs RISC ->

  • RISC processors have a library of simple efficient instructions whereas a CISC processor has a large library of complex instructions made up of simpler instructions.
  • A RISC processor has few addressing modes where a CISC processor has many addressing modes.
  • CISC processors are more expensive than RISC processors.
• GPUs ->

  • GPU stands for graphical processing unit.
  • A GPU is designed and made for processing graphical output from your computer system.
  • A GPU can be integrated into your computer’s motherboard
  • A GPU can also be a dedicated graphics card that plugs into the motherboard.
• CPUs vs GPUs ->

  • A CPU processes tasks in a serial order (one after another).
  • A GPU has lots of smaller cores that are very efficient at processing large amounts of visual data in smaller chunks simultaneously (in parallel).
• Uses of GPUs ->

  • A GPU is usually used to process the graphical information for a computer to output what the user is doing.
  • A GPU is also very useful for mining blockchain cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.
  • They are also often used in supercomputers as a parallel processor where a lot of data needs to be processed simultaneously.
  • These supercomputers could be for scientific use and engineering use.
• Multicore and Parallel Systems ->

  • Most computers (and smartphones) now use multicore systems.
  • Multicore systems are CPU chips that have multiple cores inside a single physical chip.
  • These multicore systems allow multitasking more easily as processing workload can be shared across the cores.
• Optimisation ->

  • Individual pieces of software also need to be optimised to take full advantage of multicore systems.
  • Google Chrome is considered to be optimised for multicore systems.
• Parallel ->

  • A parallel CPU is one that has lots of CPU cores (like a multicore CPU).
  • These cores all complete the same instructions on slightly different sets of data.
  • Parallel CPUs are made for processing large amounts of data very quickly.
  • A GPU is a type of parallel processor.
• Examples of uses of Graphical processing Units (GPUs) are supercomputers, gaming computers and bitcoin mining.
• Cryptocurrency is mined using GPUs