1. Instruction Set Architecture, Processor Design, and Memory System
The chapter discusses Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) as the interface between software and hardware, outlining its types and components. It explores processor design, instruction execution cycles, and performance metrics while emphasizing the importance of memory systems and hierarchy. Key comparisons between RISC and CISC architectures are provided, alongside their applications and inherent advantages and disadvantages.
Sections
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What we have learnt
- ISA defines the set of operations a CPU can perform.
- Processor design includes datapath, ALU, control unit, and registers.
- Memory hierarchy improves speed and efficiency of data access.
- Virtual memory and cache play critical roles in system performance.
- Performance metrics like CPI and MIPS help analyze system speed.
Key Concepts
- -- Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)
- The interface between software and hardware that defines the instructions a processor can execute.
- -- RISC
- Reduced Instruction Set Computer, characterized by simple, fixed-length instructions focused on speed and efficiency.
- -- CISC
- Complex Instruction Set Computer, featuring complex, variable-length instructions aimed at reducing the number of instructions per program.
- -- Memory Hierarchy
- The structured organization of memory storage systems, from fastest (registers) to slowest (secondary storage), optimizing data access speed.
- -- Virtual Memory
- A memory management capability that allows programs to use more memory than what is physically available through paging and address translation.
Additional Learning Materials
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