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the required improvement in performance and the expected added cost. A number of
processors are classified as RISC while employing a number of CISC features, such
as integer
floating-point division instructions. Similarly, there exist processors that
are classified as CISC while employing a number of RISC features, such as
pipelining.
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EXERCISES
1. What are the main principles used to construct a RISC machine?
2. Contrast the two approaches (the software and the hardware) used in RISC
machines to minimize memory operations.
3. Explain, with examples, the concept of register window and window overlap-
ping. Suggest a different approach to achieve the same results as those
achieved using register window and window overlapping.
4. For the purpose of this problem, you are required to pick a recent RISC pro-
cessor of your choice. Submit a small report (no less than 5 and no more than
10 pages in length) that summarizes the main pipelining features used and the
main RISC features used. The level of your coverage should be suitable for a
senior undergraduate student. Make sure that you be precise and neat in your
coverage. Use simple examples whenever possible. Provide accurate and
meaningful figures and tables whenever possible. You are required to cover
all aspects of a pipeline processor and all aspects of a RISC machine.
5. The controversy of RISC versus CISC never ends. Suppose that you represent
an advocate for the RISC approach; write at least a one-page critic of the CISC
approach showing its disadvantages while showing the advantages of the RISC
approach. You may want to use real-life example machine performance as a
support for your support of the RISC philosophy.
6. Repeat question 5 assuming that you are an advocate for the CISC philosophy.
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
An Overview of UltraSPARC III Cu, Version 1.1 September 2003, A White Paper, Sun
Microsystems, 1-18.
R. Colewell et al. Computers, complexity, and controversy, IEEE Comput., 18(9), 8-19
(1985).
Z. Cvetanovic and R. Kessler, Performance analysis of the Alpha 21264-based Compaq E40
system, Proc. 27th Annual International Symposium on Computer Architecture, Vancou-
ver, British Columbia, Canada, 192-202.
Exploring Alpha Power for Technical Computing. A Compaq Report on Compag High
Performance Technical Computing, November 1999, pp. 1-28.
G. Goldman and P. Tirumalai, UltraSPARC-III: The advancement of ultra computing, Proc.
IEEE COMPCON'97, p. 417.
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