Difference Between RISC and CISC

RISC Processor

RISC stands for Reduced Instruction Set Computer Processor, a microprocessor architecture with a simple collection and highly customized set of instructions. It is built to minimize the instruction execution time by optimizing and limiting the number of instructions. It means each instruction cycle requires only one clock cycle, and each cycle contains three parameters: fetch, decode and execute. The RISC processor is also used to perform various complex instructions by combining them into simpler ones. RISC chips require several transistors, making it cheaper to design and reduce the execution time for instruction.

Examples of RISC processors are SUN's SPARC, PowerPC, Microchip PIC processors, RISC-V.

Advantages of RISC Processor

1. The RISC processor's performance is better due to the simple and limited number of the instruction set.
2. It requires several transistors that make it cheaper to design.
3. RISC allows the instruction to use free space on a microprocessor because of its simplicity.
4. RISC processor is simpler than a CISC processor because of its simple and quick design, and it can complete its work in one clock cycle.

Disadvantages of RISC Processor

1. The RISC processor's performance may vary according to the code executed because subsequent instructions may depend on the previous instruction for their execution in a cycle.
2. Programmers and compilers often use complex instructions.
3. RISC processors require very fast memory to save various instructions that require a large collection of cache memory to respond to the instruction in a short time.

RISC Architecture

It is a highly customized set of instructions used in portable devices due to system reliability such as Apple iPod, mobiles/smartphones, Nintendo DS,

Features of RISC Processor

Some important features of RISC processors are:

1. One cycle execution time: For executing each instruction in a computer, the RISC processors require one CPI (Clock per cycle). And each CPI includes the fetch, decode and execute method applied in computer instruction.
2. Pipelining technique: The pipelining technique is used in the RISC processors to execute multiple parts or stages of instructions to perform more efficiently.
3. A large number of registers: RISC processors are optimized with multiple registers that can be used to store instruction and quickly respond to the computer and minimize interaction with computer memory.
4. It supports a simple addressing mode and fixed length of instruction for executing the pipeline.
5. It uses LOAD and STORE instruction to access the memory location.
6. Simple and limited instruction reduces the execution time of a process in a RISC.

CISC Processor

The CISC Stands for Complex Instruction Set Computer, developed by the Intel. It has a large collection of complex instructions that range from simple to very complex and specialized in the assembly language level, which takes a long time to execute the instructions. So, CISC approaches reducing the number of instruction on each program and ignoring the number of cycles per instruction. It emphasizes to build complex instructions directly in the hardware because the hardware is always faster than software. However, CISC chips are relatively slower as compared to RISC chips but use little instruction than RISC. Examples of CISC processors are VAX, AMD, Intel x86 and the System/360.

Characteristics of CISC Processor

Following are the main characteristics of the RISC processor:

1. The length of the code is shorts, so it requires very little RAM.
2. CISC or complex instructions may take longer than a single clock cycle to execute the code.
3. Less instruction is needed to write an application.
4. It provides easier programming in assembly language.
5. Support for complex data structure and easy compilation of high-level languages.
6. It is composed of fewer registers and more addressing nodes, typically 5 to 20.
7. Instructions can be larger than a single word.
8. It emphasizes the building of instruction on hardware because it is faster to create than the software.

CISC Processors Architecture

The CISC architecture helps reduce program code by embedding multiple operations on each program instruction, which makes the CISC processor more complex. The CISC architecture-based computer is designed to decrease memory costs because large programs or instruction required large memory space to store the data, thus increasing the memory requirement, and a large collection of memory increases the memory cost, which makes them more expensive.

Advantages of CISC Processors

1. The compiler requires little effort to translate high-level programs or statement languages into assembly or machine language in CISC processors.
2. The code length is quite short, which minimizes the memory requirement.
3. To store the instruction on each CISC, it requires very less RAM.
4. Execution of a single instruction requires several low-level tasks.
5. CISC creates a process to manage power usage that adjusts clock speed and voltage.
6. It uses fewer instructions set to perform the same instruction as the RISC.

Disadvantages of CISC Processors

1. CISC chips are slower than RSIC chips to execute per instruction cycle on each program.
2. The performance of the machine decreases due to the slowness of the clock speed.
3. Executing the pipeline in the CISC processor makes it complicated to use.
4. The CISC chips require more transistors as compared to RISC design.
5. In CISC it uses only 20% of existing instructions in a programming event.

Difference between the RISC and CISC Processors