Types of Processor

Q1. Which of the following is a characteristic of a RISC processor?

Multiple Choice · 1 point

• · A large set of complex instructions, many requiring multiple clock cycles
• · A small set of simple instructions, each completing in one clock cycle
• · Instructions that eliminate the need for registers
• · Hardware-based decoding of all instructions

Q2. Why are GPUs well-suited to graphics rendering?

Multiple Choice · 1 point

• · They have a higher clock speed than CPUs
• · They contain thousands of cores optimised for parallel processing
• · They use Harvard architecture for faster instruction fetching
• · They use RISC instruction sets exclusively

Q3. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of multicore processors?

Multiple Choice · 1 point

• · Multiple threads can be executed simultaneously
• · Performance on multi-threaded tasks is improved
• · Single-threaded programs automatically run faster
• · The overall throughput of the system is increased

Q4. Rank the following RISC vs CISC characteristics from most associated with RISC to most associated with CISC.

Ordering · 2 points

• 1. Fixed-length instructions
• 2. Relies heavily on compiler optimisation
• 3. Larger number of general-purpose registers
• 4. Instructions can directly access memory operands
• 5. Microprogrammed control unit
• 6. Hardware-intensive, complex instruction decoding

Q5. State two differences between CISC and RISC processor architectures.

Short Answer · 4 points

Q6. Give two uses of GPUs other than graphics rendering or gaming.

Short Answer · 2 points

Q7. Compare CISC and RISC architectures, discussing the trade-offs of each. Refer to instruction sets, clock cycles, registers, pipelining and compiler design.

Long Answer · 6 points