CISC Vs RISC Processor:

What is the Instruction Set:

Set of all instructions written in machine code that can be recognised and executed by a
given processing unit / CPU.
 CISC: Complex Instruction Set Computer
 RISC: Reduced Instruction Set Computer

 To perform any arithmetic action on binary, we first must load it into the registers,
such as the accumulator. We cannot work from main memory.

CISC Processors:
 CISC aims to complete the task in as few lines of assembly as possible – this means
the processer hardware and circuitry must be more complicated so it can understand
and execute a series of operations.
 A CISC processor could include a specific instruction for multiplying two numbers
e.g. a MULT
o When executed, this instruction would load the two values into the register,
multiply them together and store the result back out.
o MULT is an example of a complex instruction.
o This complex instruction may take more than once clock cycle to execute.
 CISC processors are much less common today. Intel’s x86 processors still use CISC
architecture.
 CISC architecture is mainly found in desktop PCs and laptops.

RISC Processors:
 RISC processors aim to use simple instructions that will be executed within a single
machine/clock cycle.
 In our generic computer example, at least, a complex command such as MULT won’t
exist.
 We would need to separate it into a number of simpler commands.
 RISC instructions require fewer transistors and less complex hardware, leaving more
room for general-purpose registers and cache.
 RISC uses lower energy requirements.
 RISC architectures have become incredibly popular in low-power and portable
devices.