Chapter One

Introduction to Microprocessors

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 Chapter Outline

➢ Introduction to microprocessors

➢ General architecture of microcomputer system

➢ Hardware and software

➢ Evolution of Intel microprocessors

➢ Architectural compatibility

➢ Review of the basic number systems and conversion between different

number systems

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 Introduction to Microprocessors
❖ Microprocessor is a multipurpose, clock driven, register based, digital integrated
circuit which accepts binary data as input, processes it according to instructions stored
in its memory, and provides results as output.”

❖ “Microprocessor is a computer Central Processing Unit (CPU) on a single chip that

contains millions of transistors connected by wires.”

❖ Microprocessor is a programmable integrated device that has computing and decision

making capability, similar to CPU of a computer.

❖ Each μp has a fixed set of instructions in the form of binary patterns called machine
language.

❖ The binary instructions are given abbreviated names, called mnemonics, form the
assembly language Compiled by Yilkal B. 3
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❖ Microprocessor is an electronic circuit that functions as the central processing unit
(CPU) of a computer, providing computational control.

❖ It controls memory and I/O through a series of connections called buses.

❖ The buses select an I/O or memory device, transfer data between the I/O device or
memory and the MP control the I/O and memory system.

❖ Memory and I/O are controlled through instructions that are stored in the memory and
executed by the MP.

❖ A Microprocessor is a device, which is capable of

▪ Receiving Input
▪ Performing Computations
▪ Storing data and instructions
▪ Display the results
▪ Controlling all the devices that performCompiled by Yilkal B.
the above 4 functions. 4
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❖ It can be also defined as a programmable device that takes in numbers, performs on
them arithmetic or logical operations according to the program stored in memory and
then produces other numbers as a result.

❖ Internally, the microprocessor is made up of 3 main units (Component).

1. An array of registers for holding data while it is being manipulated.

2. The Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)

3. The Control Unit.

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 General architecture of microcomputer system
❖ The hardware of a microcomputer system can be divided into four functional sections: the Input
unit, Micro processing Unit, Memory Unit, and Output Unit

❖ Microprocessor Unit (MPU) is the heart of a microcomputer.

❖ The Microprocessor is the part of the microcomputer that executes instructions of the
program and processes data.

❖ It is responsible for performing all arithmetic operations and making the logical decisions
initiated by the computer’s program.

❖ In addition to arithmetic and logic functions, theB.MPU controls overall system operation.
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➢ Input and Output units are the means by which the MPU communicates with the
outside world.

➢ Input unit: keyboard, mouse, scanner, etc.

➢ Output unit: monitor, printer, etc.
➢ Memory unit:
1. Primary: is normally smaller in size and is used for temporary storage of active
information. Typically ROM, RAM.

2. Secondary: is normally larger in size and used for long-term storage of information.
Like Hard disk, Floppy, CD, etc.

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 Types of Microprocessors
❖ Microprocessors generally is categorized in terms of the maximum number of
binary bits in the data they process.

❖ by their word length. Over time, five standard data widths have evolved for
microprocessors: 4-bit, 8-bit, 16-bit (word), 32-bit,64-bit.

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 Evolution of Microprocessor
➢ here are so many manufacturers of Microprocessors, but only two companies have
been produces popular microprocessors: Intel and Motorola.

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Brief History of CPU(Evaluation of Intel’s Microprocessors)

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Brief History of CPU(Evaluation of Intel’s Microprocessors)

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 Brief History of CPU(Evaluation of Intel’s Microprocessors)

Intel 8086/8088 Pentium

❖ Year of introduction 1978 for 8086 and ❖ Year of introduction 1993

1979 for 8088 ❖ 32-bit microprocessor, 64-bit data bus
❖ 16-bit microprocessors and 32-bit address bus
❖ Data bus width of 8086 is 16 bit and 8 bit ❖ 4 GB main memory
for 8088
❖ Double clocked 120 and 133MHz
❖ 1 MB main memory
versions
❖ 400 nanoseconds clock cycle time
❖ Fastest version is the 233MHz, Dual
❖ 6 byte instruction cache for 8086 and 4 byte
integer processor
for 8088
❖ 16 KB L1 cache (split instruction and
❖ In 1981 IBM decided to use 8088 in its
data: 8 KB each)
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personal computer
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➢ Performance of microprocessor is measured in what are called MIPS, that is
how many million instructions they can execute per second.

➢ They are measured by running a best program called the “drystone program”.

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Organization of a microprocessor-based system

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 Architectural compatibility
❖ Note that the 8086 has data bus width of 16-bit, and it is able to address
1Megabyte of memory.

❖ It is important to note that 80286, 80386, 80486, and Pentium-Pentium4

microprocessors are upward compatible with the 8086 Architecture.

❖ This mean that 8086/8088 code will run on the 80286, 80386, 80486,and Pentium
Processors,

❖ but the reverse in not true if any of the new instructions are in use

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 Organization of a microprocessor-based system with Bus

System Bus: Wires connecting memory & I/O to microprocessor

➢ Address Bus: Unidirectional, Identifying peripheral or memory location

➢ Data Bus: Bidirectional, Transferring data

➢ Control Bus: Has Synchronization signals, Timing signals, and Control signals
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 Buses
❖ A bus is a common group of wires that interconnect components in a computer
system.

❖ They transfer address, data or control information between the MP and its memory
and I/O systems.

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ALU: In addition to the arithmetic & logic circuits, the ALU includes the accumulator, which
is part of every arithmetic & logic operation.

❖ Also, the ALU includes a temporary register used for holding data temporarily during the
execution of the operation.

❖ This temporary register is not accessible by the programmer

Control unit: is circuitry that directs operations within a computer's processor.

❖ A control unit works by receiving input information that it converts into control signals,
which are then sent to the central processor.

❖ The computer's processor then tells the attached hardware what operations carry out.

❖ The functions a control unit performs depend on the type of CPU, due to the variance of
architecture between different manufacturers.
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 Review of the basic number systems and conversion
❖ The use of the microprocessor requires a working knowledge of binary, decimal, and
hexadecimal numbering systems.

Digits: decimal (base 10) number is constructed with 10 digits: 0 through 9.

❖ The first digit in any numbering system is always zero.

❖ For example, a base 8 (octal) number contains 8 digits: 0 through 7; a base 2 (binary) number
contains 2 digits: 0 and 1.

❖ If the base of a number exceeds 10, the additional digits use the letters of the alphabet,
beginning with an A. For example, a base 12 number contains 10 digits: 0 through 9,
followed by A for 10 and B for 11.

❖ The most common numbering systems used with computers are decimal, binary, and octal,
hexadecimal (base 16).
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 Number System
Positional Notation

❖ Once the digits of a number system are understood, larger numbers are constructed
by using positional notation.

Conversion
➢ Decimal number to binary number

➢ Decimal number to octal number

➢ Decimal number to hexa decimal number

➢ Binary number to Octal number

➢ Binary number to hexa decimal

Note. To the reverse of each of the above and perform arithmetic operation.
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End of Chapter One
Any Question?

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