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CISC and RISC

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16 views

CISC and RISC

Uploaded by

hussmian62
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing)

1. What is CISC?
o CISC stands for Complex Instruction Set Computing.
o It's a type of computer architecture where a single instruction can perform multiple low-level
operations (like load from memory, store to memory, or perform an arithmetic operation).
2. Key Features:
o Complex Instructions: Each instruction can do a lot of work, so fewer instructions are
needed to perform a task.
o Multi-Step Operations: One instruction can perform multiple steps, like fetching data,
processing it, and storing the result.
o Large Set of Instructions: CISC machines have a large set of instructions that the CPU can
execute.
3. Examples:
o Intel x86 processors are a common example of CISC architecture.

RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing)

1. What is RISC?
o RISC stands for Reduced Instruction Set Computing.
o It's a type of computer architecture where each instruction is simple and designed to execute
very quickly.
2. Key Features:
o Simple Instructions: Each instruction performs a single operation, which makes the CPU
faster.
o Single-Cycle Execution: Most instructions are designed to execute in one clock cycle.
o Small Set of Instructions: RISC machines have a smaller set of instructions, making them
easier to optimize and execute quickly.
3. Examples:
o ARM processors, which are widely used in smartphones and tablets, are based on RISC
architecture.

In Summary

• CISC:
o Complex instructions that can do multiple things.
o Fewer instructions needed to perform tasks.
o Examples: Intel x86 processors.
• RISC:
o Simple instructions that do one thing at a time.
o Faster execution for each instruction.
o Examples: ARM processors.

Think of CISC like a multitool that can perform many functions with one tool, while RISC is like a toolkit
where each tool is specialized for a specific task, making each tool faster and easier to use.

Differences Between CISC and RISC

1. Instruction Complexity:
o CISC: Instructions are complex and can do multiple things at once.
o RISC: Instructions are simple and do only one thing at a time.
2. Number of Instructions:
o CISC: Has a large set of instructions.
o RISC: Has a smaller set of instructions.
3. Instruction Length:
o CISC: Instructions can vary in length.
o RISC: Instructions are usually of fixed length.
4. Execution Time:
o CISC: Instructions may take multiple clock cycles to execute.
o RISC: Most instructions are designed to execute in a single clock cycle.
5. Memory Access:
o CISC: Instructions can directly access memory.
o RISC: Only specific instructions access memory, others operate on CPU registers.
6. Hardware Requirements:
o CISC: More complex hardware needed to decode and execute complex instructions.
o RISC: Simpler hardware, as instructions are simpler.
7. Efficiency:
o CISC: Can be more efficient for complex tasks as fewer instructions are needed.
o RISC: Can be more efficient for simple tasks due to faster execution of each instruction.
8. Example Processors:
o CISC: Intel x86 processors (commonly used in PCs).
o RISC: ARM processors (commonly used in smartphones and tablets).

Summary

• CISC: Complex, fewer instructions, variable length, multiple cycles, direct memory access, complex
hardware.
• RISC: Simple, more instructions, fixed length, single cycle, register-based operations, simpler
hardware.

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