Chapter 4 – Microprocessor
Important Definitions, Very Short Questions & Short Answer Questions
26
Definitions
15
VSA Items
9
Short Q Items
Important Definitions 26 Terms
Microprocessor
01
A microprocessor ia a small electronic chip that acts as the CPU of a computer. It performs calculations, processes instructions and controls other parts of the computer
Instruction Set
02
An instruction set is a collection of instructions that a processor can understand and execute.These instructions tell the computer what operation it has to perform.
Word Size
03
Word size refers to the number of bits that a processor can process or handle at one time.For example, a 32-bit processor can handle a 32-bit word at a time, while a 64-bit processor can handle a 64-bit word.
Clock Speed
04
Clock speed indicates how quickly the processor's clock generates pulses for carrying out operations. That is, the speed at which a microprocessor executes instructions. It is generally measured in Hertz (Hz), usually in MHz or GHz.
Buses
05
A bus is a set of wires or communication lines used to transfer data, addresses, and control signals between different parts of a computer.
RISC
06
RISC stands for Reduced Instruction Set Computer. It uses a relatively small set of simple instructions that can generally be executed quickly.
CISC
07
CISC stands for Complex Instruction Set Computer. It uses a larger set of instructions, including instructions that can perform relatively complex operations.
EPIC
08
EPIC stands for Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing. It is a processor design approach in which the compiler identifies instructions that can be executed at the same time and explicitly indicates this parallelism to the processor
Frequently Asked Questions Exam Revision
📌 Short Answer Questions (2-3 Marks Each)
1. What does a microprocessor do?
A microprocessor performs 3 main operations
• Fetch – takes instructions from memory
• Decode – understands what the instruction means
• Execute – performs the required action (calculation, data transfer, etc)
• Fetch – takes instructions from memory
• Decode – understands what the instruction means
• Execute – performs the required action (calculation, data transfer, etc)
Key Points: Fetch → Decode → Execute
2.What are the characteristics of microprocessor?
• Instruction set
• Word size
• Clock speed
• Word size
• Clock speed
3. What does an Instruction set include?
Typical operations inside an instruction set
• Data transfer instructions
• Arithmetic instruction
• Logical instructions
• Control/branch instructions
• I/O instructions.
• Data transfer instructions
• Arithmetic instruction
• Logical instructions
• Control/branch instructions
• I/O instructions.
4. What are the types of instruction sets?
• RISC
• CISC
• EPIC
• CISC
• EPIC
5. What are the types of buses?
The 3 types of buses are:
1)Data bus - carries data
2) Address bus - carries the address of data or instructions
3) Control bus - carries control signals.
1)Data bus - carries data
2) Address bus - carries the address of data or instructions
3) Control bus - carries control signals.
6. Characteristics of CISC
• Large and Complex instruction set (100 to 250 instructions)
• Can perform a wide variety of computing tasks making them excellent general purpose computers.
• Execution may take more clock cycles
• Can perform a wide variety of computing tasks making them excellent general purpose computers.
• Execution may take more clock cycles
7. Characteristics of RISC
• Fewer and limited number of instructions
• Faster execution and lower power consumption
• Use few instructions, which require fewer transistors and make them cheaper to manufacture
• Faster execution and lower power consumption
• Use few instructions, which require fewer transistors and make them cheaper to manufacture
8.Characteristics of EPIC.
Characteristics
• Supports parallel processing
• High performance
• Used in advanced computing systems
• Several operations are encoded in each instruction and then processed by multiple execution units.
• Supports parallel processing
• High performance
• Used in advanced computing systems
• Several operations are encoded in each instruction and then processed by multiple execution units.
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