1.1.2.Types of processor

Question 1

RISC

Answer 1

• Reduced Instruction Set Computers (there is a small instruction set. Each instruction is approx. one line of machine code)
• the compiler has to do more work to translate high level machine code into machine code.
• more RAM is required to store the code.
• pipelining is possible since each instruction takes one clock cycle

Question 2

CISC

Answer 2

• Complex Instruction Set Computers (there is a large instruction set. The aim is to try and accomplish tasks in as few lines of assembly code as possible. These are built into the software)
• the compiler has less work to translate high level code into machine code
• less RAM is required since code is shorter
• many specialised instructions are made, even though only a few of them are used.

Question 3

Multicore Systems

Answer 3

Multicore CPUs have multiple independent cores that can complete instructions separately which results in higher performance.
Generally, multicore systems perform better in larger projects than parallel systems.

Question 4

Parallel Systems

Answer 4

Parallel systems accomplish a similar task, however instead of requiring multiple cores they can complete tasks with a single core, by using threading.

Question 5

GPU

Answer 5

A GPU is a device that has a lot of independent processors 2which work in parallel making it very efficient at completing repetitive tasks such as image processing and machine learning. GPUs are a type of co-processor.

Question 6

Why are GPUs more suitable for i.e. 3D graphics than a CPU?

Answer 6

CPUs are general-purpose processors whereas GPUs are designed specifically for graphics.

Question 7

RAM

Answer 7

Random Access Memory

• volatile
• used to temporarily store data and programs that the computer is currently using.
• it can b accessed in any order and memory location so can run very quickly.

Question 8

ROM

Answer 8

Read only memory

• non-volatile
• cannot be modified so stores instructions of the BIOS
• read only

Question 9

Virtual Storage

Answer 9

storing info remotely so that it can be accessed by any computer with access to the same system.

Question 10

Virtual Memory

Answer 10

an area of a computer system’s secondary storage space acts as if it were a part of the system’s RAM/ primary memory.
Section of volatile memory created temporarily on the storage drive. It is created when a computer is running many processes at once and RAM is running low.