Microprocessor (Topics)
Microprocessor (Topics)
Basics of Microprocessor
A Microprocessor takes a bunch of instructions in machine language and
executes them, telling the processor what it has to do. Microprocessor performs
three basic things while executing the instruction:Introduction
1. It performs some basic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division and some logical operations using its Arithmetic and Logical Unit
(ALU). New Microprocessors also perform operations on floating point
numbers also.
2. Data in Microprocessor can move from one location to another.
3. It has a Program Counter (PC) register that stores the address of next
instruction based on the value of PC, Microprocessor jumps from one
location to another and takes decision.
RISC Processor
RISC stands for Reduced Instruction Set Computer. It is designed to reduce
the execution time by simplifying the instruction set of the computer. Using
RISC processors, each instruction requires only one clock cycle to execute
results in uniform execution time. This reduces the efficiency as there are more
lines of code, hence more RAM is needed to store the instructions. The compiler
also has to work more to convert high-level language instructions into machine
code.
Some of the RISC processors are −
Power PC: 601, 604, 615, 620
DEC Alpha: 210642, 211066, 21068, 21164
MIPS: TS (R10000) RISC Processor
PA-RISC: HP 7100LC
Architecture of RISC
RISC microprocessor architecture uses highly-optimized set of instructions. It is
used in portable devices like Apple iPod due to its power efficiency.
Characteristics of RISC:
The major characteristics of a RISC processor are as follows −
It consists of simple instructions.
It supports various data-type formats.
It utilizes simple addressing modes and fixed length instructions for
pipelining.
It supports register to use in any context.
One cycle execution time.
“LOAD” and “STORE” instructions are used to access the memory location.
It consists of larger number of registers.
It consists of less number of transistors.
CISC Processor:
CISC stands for Complex Instruction Set Computer. It is designed to
minimize the number of instructions per program, ignoring the number of cycles
per instruction. The emphasis is on building complex instructions directly into
the hardware.
The compiler has to do very little work to translate a high-level language into
assembly level language/machine code because the length of the code is
relatively short, so very little RAM is required to store the instructions.
Some of the CISC Processors are −
IBM 370/168
VAX 11/780
Intel 80486
Architecture of CISC:
Its architecture is designed to decrease the memory cost because more storage is
needed in larger programs resulting in higher memory cost. To resolve this, the
number of instructions per program can be reduced by embedding the number of
operations in a single instruction.
Characteristics of CISC:
Variety of addressing modes.
Larger number of instructions.
Variable length of instruction formats.
Several cycles may be required to execute one instruction.
Instruction-decoding logic is complex.
One instruction is required to support multiple addressing modes.
Special Processors:
These are the processors which are designed for some special purposes. Few of
the special processors are briefly discussed −
Coprocessor:
A coprocessor is a specially designed microprocessor, which can handle its
particular function many times faster than the ordinary microprocessor.
For example − Math Coprocessor.
Some Intel math-coprocessors are −
8087-used with 8086
80287-used with 80286
80387-used with 80386
Input/Output Processor:
It is a specially designed microprocessor having a local memory of its own,
which is used to control I/O devices with minimum CPU involvement.
For example:
DMA (direct Memory Access) controller
Keyboard/mouse controller
Graphic display controller
SCSI port controller
For example − Texas Instrument’s TMS 320 series, e.g., TMS 320C40,
TMS320C50.