1
Q
What are the key facts about CISC?
A
Complex Instruction Set Computing
- Each Instruction may take multiple clock cycles
- Instructions are different sizes (bits)
- Complicated processor design - circuitry is expensive
- More instructions than RISC (larger instruction set)
- Some instructions in CISC will rarely get used
2
Q
What are the key facts about RISC?
A
Reduced Instruction Set Computing / Computer
- Each Instruction will take one clock cycle
- Instructions are the same size (bits)
- Simple processor design (Less transistors), so cheaper to produce
- Less instructions than CISC
- Instructions are used regularly (due to limited range)
- Produces less heat and uses less power than CISC
3
Q
What are the key facts about a GPU?
A
GPU - Graphics Processing Unit
- Is a co-processor specialised in rendering graphics
- Specialist instructions available
- 1000s of cores that can apply the same instruction to multiple pieces of data simultaneously (SIMD).
4
Q
What are some non-graphical uses of GPUs?
A
Data Mining (r.g Supermarket Sales Data)
Crypto Currency
AI / Machine Learning
Big Data (e.g. DNA sequencing)
5
Q
What is parallel processing?
A
- Will allow multiple separate jobs to run concurrently.
- Can be achieved through multiple processors or distributed across multiple cores in a single CPU or GPU.
6
Q
What is a multicore system?
A
More than one processing unit in a single processor
Each core can independently process instructions at the same time.
7
Q
What are some limitations of parallel processing?
A
Writing algorithms for parallel processing is more challenging.
Some tasks cannot be done in parallel due to relying on each others ouput
