CISC & RISC
Microprocessor
Microprocessor is a small computer or CPU (central
processing unit) used to do arithmetic and logical
operation, controlling the system and storing the
data etc.
The micro processor will process the data of the
input/output peripherals and give the results back to
them to function.
Microcontroller
It is also a small computer in which CPU, memory
unit (RAM, ROM), I/O peripherals, timers, counters,
are embedded in one integrated circuit(IC) where as
in the microprocessor all these units are combined
on a board through buses.
Microcontrollers are divided into categories
according to their memory, architecture, bits and
instruction sets.
Microcontroller
Microcontroller can be interfaced easily to external
peripherals like serial ports, ADC, DAC, Bluetooth,
Wi-Fi, etc. the interfacing process is fast when
compared to the microprocessor interfacing.
The most of microcontroller uses RISC architecture.
There are also some microcontroller uses CISC
architecture like 8051, Motorola, etc
Microprocessors
• The instruction set architecture (ISA) also plays an
important role in the microprocessors.
• There are different instructions set architecture
microprocessors available in the market
CISC AND RISC
CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computer)
Complex instruction set and multiple addressing modes
Varying clock cycles per execution of each instruction
Intel x86 & Motorola 68k series follow CISC
philosophy
A “Condition code” register (Flag register) which is set
as a side-effect of most instructions.
This register reflects whether the result of the last
operation is less than, equal to, or greater than zero, and
records if certain error conditions occur.
Advantages of CISC
Easy programming, higher programming capability
Complex instruction-decoding logic driven by the
need for a single instruction to support multiple
addressing modes
A small number of general purpose registers. This is
the direct result of having instructions which can
operate directly on memory and the limited amount
of chip space not dedicated to instruction decoding,
execution, and micro code storage
Advantages of CISC
Several special purpose registers. Many CISC designs
set aside special registers for the stack pointer,
interrupt handling, and so on.
This can simplify the hardware design somewhat, at
the expense of making the instruction set more
complex
Because micro program instruction sets can be
written to match the constructs of high-level
languages, the compiler does not have to be as
complicated
Disadvantages of CISC
• Many specialized instructions aren’t used
frequently enough to justify their existence —
approximately 20% of the available
instructions are used in a typical program
Low speed
Complex instruction decoding hardware
RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer)
• The instruction set contains simple, basic
instructions, from which more complex
instructions can be composed
Each instruction is the same length, so that it may
be fetched in a single operation
Most instructions complete in one machine cycle,
which allows the processor to handle several
instructions at the same time. This pipelining is a
key technique used to speed up RISC machines
Advantages of RISC
• Speed.
Since a simplified instruction set allows for a
pipelined, super scalar design RISC processors
often achieve 2 to 4 times the performance of
CISC processors using comparable semiconductor
technology and the same clock rates
Advantages of RISC
• Simpler decoding hardware.
Because the instruction set of a RISC processor is so
simple, it uses up much less chip space; extra
functions, such as memory management units or
floating point arithmetic units, can also be placed on
the same chip.
Smaller chips allow a semiconductor manufacturer to
place more parts on a single silicon wafer, which can
lower the per-chip cost dramatically
Advantages of RISC
• Shorter design cycle.
• Since RISC processors are simpler than
corresponding CISC processors, they can be designed
more quickly, and can take advantage of other
technological developments sooner than
corresponding CISC designs, leading to greater leaps
in performance between generations
Disadvantages of RISC
• - Hazards of RISC
• Code Quality: Instruction Scheduling
• Debugging
• Code Expansion
• System Design
• - Less programming flexibility
CISC-Complex Instruction Set
Computer
• It has many instructions and it operates
slowly.
• Instruction is more complex
• It has several byte of code to execute a single
instruction.
• Execution time is slow.
CISC-Complex Instruction Set
Computer
This was first ISA. In the complex instruction
set computer (CISC) instruction set is complex
instructions which will take long time to
execute; complex instruction may consist of
opcode addressing mode operand etc.
The execution speed will be slow. X86
architecture is example
RISC- Reduced Instruction Set
Computer
• Its instructions set and overall design is
simple. So it operates fast.
• Instruction is more complex.
• It has one single binary word and most of the
instruction execute in same time.
• Execution time is fast.
RISC- Reduced Instruction Set
Computer
In the reduced instruction set computer (RISC)
the instruction set will be small and execution
speed will be fast. The implementation is
simple and does not require complex
architecture. RISC is widely used in embedded
applications. SHARC and POWERPC use RISC.
CISC vs RISC
CISC RISC
Emphasis on hardware Emphasis on software
Includes multi-clock Single-clock,
complex instructions reduced instruction only
Memory-to-memory: Register to register:
"LOAD" and "STORE" "LOAD" and "STORE"
incorporated in instructions are independent instructions
Small code sizes, Low cycles per second,
high cycles per second large code sizes
Transistors used for storing Spends more transistors
complex instructions on memory registers
CISC vs RISC
CISC RISC
Variable Length Single Word
Instruction Variable Instruction fixed field
Format decoding
Memory Operands Load/Store Architecture
Complex Operations Simple operations