microprocessor
n. integrated circuit that performs the central processing and internal functions of a computer (Computers) | ||||
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Microprocessor definition was found in categories: Computer & Internet(5) Language, Idioms & Slang(2) Science & Technology(2) Entertainment & Music(1) Encyclopedia(1)
Microprocessor Definition from Computer & Internet Dictionaries & Glossaries
| FOLDOC |
microprocessor
<architecture> (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, 8008, 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 computers. 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.
(2002-07-16)
<architecture> (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, 8008, 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 computers. 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.
(2002-07-16)
| Integrated Circuit Terminology |
Microprocessor
general purpose processing units designed to execute very large and complex programs, usually not in real time.
general purpose processing units designed to execute very large and complex programs, usually not in real time.
| A Glossary of Internet & PC Terminology |
Microprocessor
The Microprocessor is built onto a single piece of silicon, known as a wafer or chip, Its size is about 0.5 cm along one side and no more 0.05 cm thick. It can be programmed to perform a great number of information-handling tasks. It can serve as a general-purpose computer for instructional or word-processing use, to control other machines or industrial processes such as making food products, and for hand-held calculators. Its advent was brought about by the progressive miniturisation of integrated circuits and by advances in semiconductor technology.
The Microprocessor is built onto a single piece of silicon, known as a wafer or chip, Its size is about 0.5 cm along one side and no more 0.05 cm thick. It can be programmed to perform a great number of information-handling tasks. It can serve as a general-purpose computer for instructional or word-processing use, to control other machines or industrial processes such as making food products, and for hand-held calculators. Its advent was brought about by the progressive miniturisation of integrated circuits and by advances in semiconductor technology.
| Panda Software Glossary |
Microprocessor
This is the integrated electronic heart of a computer or IT system e.g. Pentium (I, II, III, IV,...), 486, 386, etc.
This is the integrated electronic heart of a computer or IT system e.g. Pentium (I, II, III, IV,...), 486, 386, etc.
| Glossary of Computer and Internet Terms |
Microprocessor
This little chip is the heart of a computer. The microprocessor, often referred to as just the processor, does all the computations like adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, duplicating, etc. In PCs, the most popular microprocessor used is the Intel Pentium, whereas Apple Macintosh computers use the PowerPC chip (developed by Motorola, IBM, and Apple). Microprocessors perform many operations using instructions that are integrated into each chip, but software programs can tell the processor to do specific instructions as well. Megahertz are used to measure the clock speed of microprocessors but higher Megahertz don't always mean faster speeds. Though a 600-MHz chip has a clock speed that is twice as fast as a 300-Mhz chip, it doesn't mean the computer with the 600-Mhz chip will run all tasks twice as fast. This is because the speed of a computer is also influenced by other factors, such as the amount of memory available, the design of the program you're running, and most importantly, the efficiency of the processor. Some processors can complete more operations per clock cycle than other processors, making them more efficient than other processors with higher clock speeds. This is why the PowerPC is usually faster than Pentium chips at that are clocked at higher Megahertz.
This little chip is the heart of a computer. The microprocessor, often referred to as just the processor, does all the computations like adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, duplicating, etc. In PCs, the most popular microprocessor used is the Intel Pentium, whereas Apple Macintosh computers use the PowerPC chip (developed by Motorola, IBM, and Apple). Microprocessors perform many operations using instructions that are integrated into each chip, but software programs can tell the processor to do specific instructions as well. Megahertz are used to measure the clock speed of microprocessors but higher Megahertz don't always mean faster speeds. Though a 600-MHz chip has a clock speed that is twice as fast as a 300-Mhz chip, it doesn't mean the computer with the 600-Mhz chip will run all tasks twice as fast. This is because the speed of a computer is also influenced by other factors, such as the amount of memory available, the design of the program you're running, and most importantly, the efficiency of the processor. Some processors can complete more operations per clock cycle than other processors, making them more efficient than other processors with higher clock speeds. This is why the PowerPC is usually faster than Pentium chips at that are clocked at higher Megahertz.
Microprocessor Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries
| WordNet 2.0 |
microprocessor
Noun
1. 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"
(hypernym) chip, microchip, micro chip, silicon chip
(part-holonym) personal computer, PC, microcomputer
Noun
1. 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"
(hypernym) chip, microchip, micro chip, silicon chip
(part-holonym) personal computer, PC, microcomputer
| hEnglish - advanced version |
microprocessor
microprocessor
n : 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"
similar words(1)
intel comparative microprocessor performance index
microprocessor
n : 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"
similar words(1)
intel comparative microprocessor performance index
Microprocessor Definition from Science & Technology Dictionaries & Glossaries
| Telecommunication Standard Terms |
| Technical English by wpv |
Microprocessor
A small computer used in load management to analyze energy demand and consumption such that loads are turned on and off according to a predetermined program.
A small computer used in load management to analyze energy demand and consumption such that loads are turned on and off according to a predetermined program.
Microprocessor Definition from Entertainment & Music Dictionaries & Glossaries
| The DJ Glossary |
Microprocessor
A single high-density INC. chip which performs the processing operations of a computer.
A single high-density INC. chip which performs the processing operations of a computer.
Microprocessor Definition from Encyclopedia Dictionaries & Glossaries
| Wikipedia English - The Free Encyclopedia |
Microprocessor
A microprocessor is a programmable digital electronic component that incorporates the functions of a central processing unit (CPU) on a single semiconducting integrated circuit (IC). The microprocessor was born by reducing the word size of the CPU from 32 bits to 4 bits, so that the transistors of its logic circuits would fit onto a single part. One or more microprocessors typically serve as the CPU in a computer system, embedded system, or handheld device. Microprocessors made possible the advent of the microcomputer in the mid-1970s. Before this period, electronic CPUs were typically made from bulky discrete switching devices (and later small-scale integrated circuits) containing the equivalent of only a few transistors. By integrating the processor onto one or a very few large-scale integrated circuit packages (containing the equivalent of thousands or millions of discrete transistors), the cost of processor power was greatly reduced. Since the advent of the IC in the mid-1970s, the microprocessor has become the most prevalent implementation of the CPU, nearly completely replacing all other forms. See History of computing hardware for pre-electronic and early electronic computers.
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