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Official PYQ · 1999

GATE CS 1999 Q2.22 — Machine Instructions and Addressing Modes

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The main difference(s) between a CISC and a RISC processor is/are that a RISC processor typically

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Answer: A;B;C;D

A RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) processor is designed to simplify the instruction set to achieve high-speed execution. Let's compare the typical characteristics of RISC with CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computer):

  • A. Has fewer instructions: RISC focuses on a small set of simple, highly optimized instructions. Complex operations are broken down into sequences of these simpler instructions.
  • B. Has fewer addressing modes: To simplify instruction decoding and pipelining, RISC supports only a few basic addressing modes (usually limited to register-direct and simple displacement for load/store).
  • C. Has more registers: RISC architectures rely on a register-to-register (load-store) design. To minimize slow memory accesses, they feature a larger general-purpose register file.
  • D. Is easier to implement using hard-wired logic: Because RISC instructions are simple, uniform in length, and typically execute in a single clock cycle, the control unit is straightforward and implemented using fast hard-wired logic rather than complex microprogramming.

Therefore, all options A, B, C, and D are correct characteristics of a RISC processor.

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