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Chapter 1 - Understanding The Concept of Microprocessor and Microcomputer

A microprocessor is a central processing unit (CPU) built on a single integrated circuit. It controls the flow of data within a microcomputer/system and performs arithmetic and logical operations. It consists of an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), control unit, and register array. Common examples include the Intel 8085 and 8086 microprocessors. The 8085 is an 8-bit processor with 64KB memory capacity, while the 8086 is a 16-bit processor with 1MB capacity. Microprocessors can be classified as RISC, CISC, or special purpose processors designed for tasks like math coprocessing, input/output processing, or digital signal processing.

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Faizur Fariha
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63 views

Chapter 1 - Understanding The Concept of Microprocessor and Microcomputer

A microprocessor is a central processing unit (CPU) built on a single integrated circuit. It controls the flow of data within a microcomputer/system and performs arithmetic and logical operations. It consists of an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), control unit, and register array. Common examples include the Intel 8085 and 8086 microprocessors. The 8085 is an 8-bit processor with 64KB memory capacity, while the 8086 is a 16-bit processor with 1MB capacity. Microprocessors can be classified as RISC, CISC, or special purpose processors designed for tasks like math coprocessing, input/output processing, or digital signal processing.

Uploaded by

Faizur Fariha
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is a Microprocessor?

Computer's Central Processing Unit (CPU) built on a single Integrated Circuit (IC) is called
a microprocessor.
Microprocessor is a controlling unit of a micro-computer, fabricated on a small chip capable
of performing ALU (Arithmetic Logical Unit) operations and communicating with the other
devices connected to it.
A microprocessor is a processor which incorporates the functions of a CPU on a single
integrated circuit (IC).

Microcomputer: A digital computer with one microprocessor which acts as a CPU is called
microcomputer.

Block Diagram of a Microcomputer

A microprocessor consists of an ALU, control unit and register array. Where ALU performs
arithmetic and logical operations on the data received from an input device or memory.
Control unit controls the instructions and flow of data within the computer. And, register
array consists of registers identified by letters like B, C, D, E, H, L, and accumulator.

Difference between Microprocessor and Microcontroller.


Microprocessor Microcontroller
Heart of the system. Heart of the embedded system.
Externally connected with input-output
input-output components are embedded.
components.
The circuit may be large depending upon
The circuit is very small.
usage.
Not cost-effective. Cost-effective.
The total consumption of power is high. Total consumption of power is less.
Power saving mode is not generally
Power saving mode is generally offered.
available.
Used in MP3 players, washing machines,
Used in PC.
etc.
Memories like RAM and ROM are
Carries RAM, ROM, etc.
absent.
Runs at a very high speed. Runs at a relatively lower speed.
It is complex and costly. Simple and cheap.
Example: DEC Alpha 21164, IBM
Example: Intel 8031/8051, PIC1x, etc.
RS6000, etc
Features of 8-bit microprocessor (8085)
 It is an 8-bit microprocessor.
 It has a 16-bit address line.
 It has a 8-bit data bus.
 The memory capacity is 64 KB.
 The Clock speed of this microprocessor is 3 MHz.
 It has five flags.
 8085 microprocessor does not support memory segmentation.
 It does not support pipelining.
 It is accumulator based processor.
 It has no minimum or maximum mode.
 The cost of 8085 is low.
Features of 16-bit microprocessor (8086)
 It is a 16-bit microprocessor.
 It has a 20-bit address line.
 It has a 16-bit data bus.
 The memory capacity is 1 MB.
 The Clock speed of this microprocessor varies between 5, 8 and 10 MHz for different
versions.
 It has nine flags.
 8086 microprocessor supports memory segmentation.
 It supports pipelining.
 It is general purpose register based processor.
 It has minimum and maximum modes.
 The cost of 8086 is high.

A microprocessor can be classified into three categories –


RISC Processor
RISC stands for Reduced Instruction Set Computer. It is designed to reduce the
execution time by simplifying the instruction set of the computer. Using RISC
processors, each instruction requires only one clock cycle to execute results in
uniform execution time. This reduces the efficiency as there are more lines of code,
hence more RAM is needed to store the instructions.
Architecture of RISC
RISC microprocessor architecture uses highly-optimized set of instructions. It is used
in portable devices like Apple iPod due to its power efficiency.

Characteristics of RISC
The major characteristics of a RISC processor are as follows −
 It consists of simple instructions.
 It supports various data-type formats.
 It utilizes simple addressing modes and fixed length instructions for pipelining.
 It supports register to use in any context.
 One cycle execution time.
 “LOAD” and “STORE” instructions are used to access the memory location.
 It consists of larger number of registers.
 It consists of less number of transistors.
CISC Processor
CISC stands for Complex Instruction Set Computer. It is designed to minimize the
number of instructions per program, ignoring the number of cycles per instruction.
The emphasis is on building complex instructions directly into the hardware.
Architecture of CISC
Its architecture is designed to decrease the memory cost because more storage is
needed in larger programs resulting in higher memory cost. To resolve this, the
number of instructions per program can be reduced by embedding the number of
operations in a single instruction.
Characteristics of CISC
 Variety of addressing modes.
 Larger number of instructions.
 Variable length of instruction formats.
 Several cycles may be required to execute one instruction.
 Instruction-decoding logic is complex.
 One instruction is required to support multiple addressing modes.
Special Processors
These are the processors which are designed for some special purposes. Few of the
special processors are briefly discussed −
Coprocessor
A coprocessor is a specially designed microprocessor, which can handle its
particular function many times faster than the ordinary microprocessor.
For example − Math Coprocessor.
Some Intel math-coprocessors are −

 8087-used with 8086


 80287-used with 80286
 80387-used with 80386
Input/Output Processor
It is a specially designed microprocessor having a local memory of its own, which is
used to control I/O devices with minimum CPU involvement.
For example −
 DMA (direct Memory Access) controller
 Keyboard/mouse controller
 Graphic display controller
 SCSI port controller
Transputer (Transistor Computer)
A transputer is a specially designed microprocessor with its own local memory and
having links to connect one transputer to another transputer for inter-processor
communications. It was first designed in 1980 by Inmos and is targeted to the
utilization of VLSI technology.
For example − 16-bit T212, 32-bit T425, the floating point (T800, T805 & T9000)
processors.
DSP (Digital Signal Processor)
This processor is specially designed to process the analog signals into a digital form.
This is done by sampling the voltage level at regular time intervals and converting
the voltage at that instant into a digital form. This process is performed by a circuit
called an analogue to digital converter, A to D converter or ADC.
A DSP contains the following components −
 Program Memory − It stores the programs that DSP will use to process data.
 Data Memory − It stores the information to be processed.
 Compute Engine − It performs the mathematical processing, accessing the
program from the program memory and the data from the data memory.
 Input/Output − It connects to the outside world.
Its applications are −

 Sound and music synthesis


 Audio and video compression
 Video signal processing
 2D and 3d graphics acceleration.

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