Difference Between CISC and RISC

Architectural Reduced Instruction Set

Complex Instruction Set Computer(CISC)
Characterstics Computer(RISC)
Instruction size and Large set of instructions with variable formats (16- Small set of instructions with
format 64 bits per instruction). fixed format (32 bit).
Data transfer Memory to memory. Register to register.
Most micro coded using control memory (ROM) Mostly hardwired without
CPU control
but modern CISC use hardwired control. control memory.
Instruction type Not register based instructions. Register based instructions.
Memory access More memory access. Less memory access.
Clocks Includes multi-clocks. Includes single clock.
Instructions are reduced and
Instruction nature Instructions are complex.
simple.