University Institute of Engineering

Department of Computer Science & Engineering

COMPUTER ORGANIZATION & ARCHITECTURE

ER. SHIKHA ATWAL

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

BE-CSE
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF HARDWIRED AND MICRO-
PROGRAMMED CONTROL UNIT
 To execute an instruction, there are two types of control units: Hardwired
Control unit and Micro-programmed control unit.
 Hardwired control units are generally faster than microprogrammed
designs. In hardwired control, we saw how all the control signals required
inside the CPU can be generated using a state counter and a Programmable
Logic Array (PLA) circuit.
 A microprogrammed control unit is a relatively simple logic circuit that is
capable of sequencing through microinstructions and generating control signals
to execute each microinstruction.
 The main difference between Hardwired and Microprogrammed Control Unit is
that a Hardwired Control Unit is a sequential circuit that generates control
signals while a Microprogrammed Control Unit is a unit with microinstructions
in the control memory to generate control signals.
 Following are the further differences in tabular form.
Hardwired Control Unit Microprogrammed Control Unit
With the help of a hardware circuit, we While with the help of programming, we
can implement the hardwired control unit. In can implement the micro-
other words, we can say that it is a programmed control unit.
circuitry approach.
The hardwired control unit uses the logic The micro-programmed CU uses
circuit so that it can generate the control microinstruction so that it can
signals, which are required for the processor. generate the control signals. Usually,
control memory is used to
store these microinstructions.
In this CU, the control signals are going to be It is very easy to modify the micro-
generated in the form of hard wired. programmed control unit because
That's why it is very difficult to modify the the modifications are going to be
hardwired control unit. performed only at the instruction level.
 Hardwired Control Unit Microprogrammed Control Unit
The complex instructions cannot be The micro-programmed control unit is
handled by a hardwired control unit because able to handle the complex instructions.
when we design a circuit for this
instruction, it will become complex.
In the form of logic gates, everything has to beThe micro-programmed control unit is
realized in the hardwired control unit. less costly as compared to the hardwired
That's why this CU is more costly as compared CU because this control unit only
to the micro-programmed control unit. requires the microinstruction to
generate the control signals.
Because of the hardware implementation, the The micro-programmed control unit is
hardwired control unit is able to use a limited able to generate control signals for many
number of instructions. instructions.
Difficult to modify as the control signals that Easy to modify as the modification need
need to be generated are hardwired to be done only at the instruction level
 Hardwired Control Unit Microprogrammed Control Unit
More costlier as everything has to be Less costlier than hardwired control
realized in terms of logic gates as only micro instructions are used
for generating control signals
Only limited number of instructions are Control signals for many
used due to the hardware implementation instructions can be generated
Used in computer that makes use of Used in computer that makes use
Reduced Instruction Set Computers of Complex Instruction Set
(RISC) Computers (CISC)
Difference Between Hardwired and Microprogrammed Control Unit

Definition
Hardwired Control Unit is a unit that uses combinational logic units, featuring a
finite number of gates that can generate specific results based on the instructions
that were used to invoke those responses. Microprogrammed Control Unit is a
unit that contains microinstructions in the control memory to produce control
signals.

Speed
The speed of operations in Hardwired Control Unit is fast. The speed of
operations in Microprogrammed Control Unit is slow because it requires
frequent memory accesses.
Difference Between Hardwired and Microprogrammed Control Unit

Modification
To do modifications in a Hardwired Control Unit, the entire unit should be
redesigned. In Microprogrammed Control Unit, modifications can be
implemented by changing the microinstructions in the control memory.
Therefore, Microprogrammed Control Unit is more flexible.
Cost
Furthermore, Hardwired Control Unit are more costly to implement than a
Microprogrammed Control Unit.
Handling Complex Instructions
Also, it is difficult for Hardwired Control Unit to handle complex instructions,
but is easier for the Microprogrammed Control Unit to handle complex
instructions.
Difference Between Hardwired and Microprogrammed Control Unit

Instruction Decoding
Moreover, it is difficult to perform instruction decoding in Hardwired Control
Unit than in Microprogrammed Control Unit.
Instruction set Size
In addition to the above differences, the Hardwired Control Unit uses a small
instruction set while the Microprogrammed Control Unit uses a large instruction
set.
Control Memory
Also, there is no control memory usage in Hardwired Control Unit but, on the
other hand, Microprogrammed Control Unit uses control memory.
Difference Between Hardwired and Microprogrammed Control Unit

Applications
Considering the applications, the Hardwired Control Unit is used in processors
that use a simple instruction set known as the Reduced Instruction Set
Computers (RISC). Microprogrammed Control Unit is used in processors
based on a complex instruction set known as Complex Instruction Set
Computer (CISC).
References

Reference Books:
●J.P. Hayes, “Computer Architecture and
Organization”, Third Edition.
●Mano, M., “Computer System Architecture”, Third
Edition, Prentice Hall.
●Stallings, W., “Computer Organization and Architecture”, Eighth Edition,
Pearson Education.

Text Books:
●Carpinelli J.D,” Computer systems organization &Architecture”, Fourth
Edition, Addison Wesley.
●Patterson and Hennessy, “Computer Architecture”, Fifth Edition Morgaon
Kauffman.
Reference Website
●Instruction Set Architecture : Instructions and Formats | Computer
Architecture (witscad.com)
●https://byjus.com/gate/difference-between-hardwired-and-microprogrammed-c
ontrol- unit/
●https://www.javatpoint.com/hardwired-vs-micro-programmed-control-unit