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microprocessormore about microprocessor

microprocessor


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  microprocessor 
  n  :  an  integrated  circuit  semiconductor  chip  that  performs  the 
  bulk  of  the  processing  and  controls  the  parts  of  a 
  system;  "a  microprocessor  functions  as  the  central 
  processing  unit  of  a  microcomputer";  "a  disk  drive 
  contains  a  microprocessor  to  handle  the  internal 
  functions  of  the  drive" 
 
  From  The  Free  On-line  Dictionary  of  Computing  (13  Mar  01)  [foldoc]: 
 
  microprocessor 
 
    (Or  "micro")  A  computer  whose  entire  {CPU}  is 
  contained  on  one  (or  a  small  number  of)  {integrated  circuits}. 
 
  The  important  characteristics  of  a  microprocessor  are  the 
  widths  of  its  internal  and  external  {address  bus}  and  {data 
  bus}  (and  instruction),  its  {clock  rate}  and  its  {instruction 
  set}.  Processors  are  also  often  classified  as  either  {RISC} 
  or  {CISC}. 
 
  The  first  commercial  microprocessor  was  the  {Intel  4004}  which 
  appeared  in  1971.  This  was  the  CPU  member  of  a  set  of  four 
  {LSI}  {integrated  circuits}  called  the  MCS-4,  which  was 
  originally  designed  for  use  in  a  calculator  but  was  marketed 
  as  "programmable  controller  for  logic  replacement".  The  4004 
  is  referred  to  as  a  4-bit  microprocessor  since  it  processed 
  only  4  bits  of  data  at  a  time.  This  very  short  word  size  is 
  due  mainly  to  the  limitations  imposed  by  the  maximum 
  integrated  circuit  density  then  achievable. 
 
  As  integrated  circuit  densities  increased  with  the  rapid 
  development  of  integrated  circuit  manufacturing  technology, 
  the  power  and  performance  of  the  microprocessors  also 
  increased.  This  is  reflected  in  the  increase  in  the  CPU  word 
  size  to  4,  8,  16,  and  by  mid-1980s,  32  bits.  The  smaller 
  microprocessors  have  relatively  simple  {instruction  sets}, 
  e.g.,  no  {floating  point}  instructions,  but  they  are 
  nevertheless  suitable  as  controllers  for  a  very  wide  range  of 
  applications  such  as  car  engines  and  microwave  ovens. 
 
  The  {Intel  4004}  was  followed  with  among  others  the  {4040}, 
  {8080},  {8086},  {80186},  {80286},  {80386},  {486}  and 
  {Pentium}.  Other  families  include  the  {Motorola}  {6800}  and 
  {680x0}  families,  {National  Semiconductor}  {NS16000}  and 
  {NS32000},  {SPARC},  {ARM},  {MIPS},  {Zilog  Z8000},  {PowerPC} 
  and  the  {Inmos}  {Transputer}  family. 
 
  The  larger,  more  recent  microprocessors  families  have 
  gradually  acquired  most  of  the  features  of  large  computers. 
  As  the  microprocessor  industry  has  matured,  several  families 
  of  microprocessors  have  evolved  into  de  facto  industrial 
  standards  with  multiple  manufacturers  and  numerous  support" 
  chips  including  {RAM},  {ROM},  {I/O  controllers}  etc 
 
  A  single  chip  microprocessor  may  include  other  components  such 
  as  memory  ({RAM},  {ROM},  {PROM}),  {memory  management}, 
  {caches},  {floating-point  unit},  input/output  ports  and 
  timers.  Such  devices  are  also  known  as  {microcontrollers}. 
 
  The  one-chip  microcomputer  is  in  many  respects,  a  landmark 
  development  in  computer  technology  because  it  reduces  the 
  computer  to  a  small  inexpensive,  and  easily  replaceable 
  design  component. 
 
  Microcomputers  have  given  rise  to  a  new  class  of 
  general-purpose  machines  called  {personal  computer}s.  These 
  are  small  low  cost  computers  that  are  designed  to  sit  on  an 
  ordinary  office  desk  or  to  be  portable  and  fuelled  the 
  computer  boom  of  the  late  1980s.  The  most  widespread  example 
  is  the  also  {IBM  PC},  based  on  microprocessors  from  {Intel 
  Corporation}.  {Apple  Computers,  Inc.}  have  also  produced  a 
  range  of  personal  computers,  as  have  several  other  companies. 
 
  See  also  {killer  micro},  {minicomputer},  {CPU  Info  Center}. 
 
  (1996-11-26) 
 
 




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