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Microcontroller vs Microprocessor Explained

Microprocessors consist of a CPU, ALU, instruction decoder, and registers, while microcontrollers include these components along with additional features like RAM, ROM, I/O ports, and timers on a single chip. Microprocessors are generally more powerful and versatile but consume more power, whereas microcontrollers are designed for specific control-oriented applications with lower processing power and power consumption. Examples of microcontrollers include the 8051, PIC, and Atmega8.

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2 views8 pages

Microcontroller vs Microprocessor Explained

Microprocessors consist of a CPU, ALU, instruction decoder, and registers, while microcontrollers include these components along with additional features like RAM, ROM, I/O ports, and timers on a single chip. Microprocessors are generally more powerful and versatile but consume more power, whereas microcontrollers are designed for specific control-oriented applications with lower processing power and power consumption. Examples of microcontrollers include the 8051, PIC, and Atmega8.

Uploaded by

kamranaliccc19
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Microcontroller Vs Microprocessor

A microprocessor simply consists of the processor, the ALU


(Arithmetic Logic Unit), the Instruction Decoder and a few registers
which are used to store data for mathematical and logical operations.
E.g – 8085, 8086
A microcontroller includes a processor, the ALU, Instruction
Decoder, registers, code storage space(flash memory/ROM), RAM,
general purpose I/O pins, timers, interrupt controller, serial
communication module etc.

 That is, the microcontroller is a microprocessor with some basic


modules.
Components of a
microprocessor/controller
• CPU: Central Processing Unit
• I/O: Input /Output
• Bus: Address bus & Data bus
• Memory: RAM & ROM
• Timer
• Interrupt
• Serial Port
• Parallel Port

2
General-purpose microprocessor:

• CPU for Computers


• Commonly no RAM, ROM, I/O on CPU chip itself

Many chips on motherboard


Data Bus
CPU
General-
Serial
Purpose RAM ROM I/O Timer COM
Micro- Port
Port
processor
Address Bus

3
8051, Atmega8, PIC 18F4550
Microcontroller
• A single-chip computer
• On-chip RAM, ROM, I/O ports...
• Example：Motorola’s 6811, Intel’s 8051, Zilog’s Z8 and PIC 16X

CPU RAM ROM


A single chip
Serial
I/O Timer COM
Port
Port
Microcontroller

5
Microprocessor vs. Microcontroller
Microprocessor Microcontroller
• CPU is stand-alone, RAM, • CPU, RAM, ROM, I/O and timer
ROM, I/O, timer are separate are all on a single chip
• designer can decide on the • fixed amount of on-chip ROM,
amount of ROM, RAM and RAM, I/O ports
I/O ports.
• for applications in which cost,
• expensive power and space are critical
• versatility
• single-purpose (control-oriented)
• general-purpose
• Low processing power
• High processing power
• High power consumption • Low power consumption
• Instruction sets focus on • Bit-level operations
processing-intensive • Instruction sets focus on control
operations and bit-level operations
• Typically 32/64 – bit • Typically 8/16 bit
• Typically deep pipeline (5-20 • Typically single-cycle/two-stage
stages)
pipeline
7
Some Popular Microcontrollers…
• 8051
• Microchip Technology PIC
• Atmel AVR
• Texas Instruments MSP430 (16-bit)

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