INSTRUCTION SET.

GROUP SEVEN.
What is a instruction set?
• An instruction set is a group of commands that a computer processor
can understand and execute to carry out specific operations. such
operation are as arithmetic operations, logical operations, memory
operations, and input/output operations.
• Examples of instruction set; x86 instruction set used by intel processors
commonly found in laptops and server computers.
• ARM instruction used in many types of devices such as phones and
tablet
What are the types of instruction set..?

• There are several types of instruction sets such as reduced instruction set (RISC),
complex instruction set (CICS), very long instruction word set (VLIW), hybrid
which is a mixture of RISC and CICS and explicitly parallel instruction set(EPIC)
• But the main goal is on TWO types of instruction sets which are; complex (CICS)
and reduced (RISC) instruction set.
• NOTE: The instructions are made up of a specific number of bits For instance, The
CPU's instructions might be 8 bits, where the first 4 bits make up the operation
code that tells the computer what to do. The next 4 bits are the operand, which
tells the computer the data that should be used.
I) Reduced instruction set computing (RISC).
• Reduced instruction set: this type of instruction set is characterized by a small
number of instructions, fixed length instructions, and a simple set of addressing
modes. RISC architectures involve fewer instructions than CISC architectures,
which can yield performance advantages due to the simpler design.
• Examples of RISC; ARM (Advanced RISC Machines) A RISC architecture used
in many mobile devices, embedded systems, and other low-power applications.
• Power ISA (Instruction Set Architecture): A RISC instruction set architecture
used in many IBM Power Systems and other servers.
II) Complex instruction set computing (CISC).
• Complex instruction set : this type of instruction set is characterized by a large
number of instructions, many addressing modes, and variable length instruction.
CISC processors can be powerful and flexible, they can also be more challenging to
design (due to many quantities of instructions) and optimize for performance
compared to RISC processors.
• Examples of CISC; x86 instruction set used by intel processors commonly found
in laptops and server computers.
• DEC Alpha: This was a powerful CISC processor used in high-end workstations
and servers in the 1990s.
Comparison between RISC and CISC.
RISC CISC
1.Uses a small set of simplex instruction. 1.Uses a full set of complex instruction.

2.Is more software oriented. 2.Has more oriented hardware design.

3.Has a fixed instruction format. 3.Has variable instruction formats.

4.Make more use of RAM. 4.Require less RAM.

5.Requires one clock cycle to execute an 5.Requires multiple cycle clock to execute an
instruction. instruction.
6.Has fewer addressing modes and more 6.Has more addressing modes and fewer
registers. registers
7.Used in cellphones and a tablets. 7.Used in laptops and desktop computers.
Importance of instruction sets.
• 1. Control Computer Operations: instruction sets are used to control the
operation of the computer. instruction set is responsible for telling the computer
what to do and how to do it. Without an instruction set, the computer would not
be able to perform any operations.
• 2. Enable Different Program Languages: instruction sets provide a common
language for software to communicate with the hardware. This makes it possible
to write programs in different languages that can be executed on the same
hardware.
Importance of instruction sets.
• 3. Security: instruction sets can be designed with security features to protect
against malicious attacks. For example, instructions can be added to check the
validity of input data to prevent buffer overflow attacks. But also, instruction
sets can include encryption and decryption instructions to secure sensitive data.
• 4. Scalability: instruction sets can be designed for scalability, so that they can be
used in systems with different levels of complexity, from small embedded
systems to large-scale enterprise systems. This makes it possible to design
systems that can be scaled up or down to meet changing requirements.
Importance of instruction sets.
• 5. Standardization: instruction sets provide a standardized interface between the
software and the hardware. This makes it easier for software developers to write
programs that will run on a wide range of hardware platforms, without having
to worry about the differences in the underlying hardware.
• 6. Maintainability: instruction sets can be updated and maintained over time to
fix bugs or improve performance. This helps to extend the lifespan of hardware
platforms and reduce the need for costly hardware replacements.
How are the instruction sets used.?
• Instruction sets are used by the computer's Central Processing Unit (CPU) to
execute instructions and perform operations. When a computer program is
written, it is converted into machine language, which consists of a series of
binary instructions that the CPU can read and execute. These binary instructions
correspond to specific instruction codes that are defined in the instruction set
architecture (ISA) of the CPU.