Computer Architecture Questions
The main difference between RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) and CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computer) architectures lies in the design philosophy and instruction set characteristics.
RISC architecture focuses on simplicity and efficiency by using a smaller set of simple and uniform instructions. It aims to execute instructions in fewer clock cycles, making it faster and more efficient. RISC processors typically have a large number of general-purpose registers and rely heavily on compiler optimization.
On the other hand, CISC architecture emphasizes providing a rich set of complex instructions that can perform multiple operations in a single instruction. CISC processors often have a smaller number of registers and rely on microcode to execute complex instructions. This allows CISC processors to execute certain tasks more efficiently, but it can also lead to longer execution times for some instructions.
In summary, RISC architecture prioritizes simplicity, efficiency, and compiler optimization, while CISC architecture focuses on providing a wide range of complex instructions for more efficient execution of certain tasks.