6.2. Processor Characteristics
Processors can be implemented in several different ways. Many current Unix systems, including those of Hewlett-Packard, use processors that are classified as RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) processors. RISC processors tend to have simple, fixed-length instructions that are executed in as few cycles as possible. Hewlett-Packard's RISC processors all are based on the Precision Architecture and are classified as PA-RISC chips. Another common processor classification is CISC, which stands for Complex Instruction Set Computing. The Intel® x86 family of processors are all considered CISC, although recent versions behave very much like RISC processors internally. CISC processors execute variable-sized instructions ...
Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.
Read now
Unlock full access