What is a Microprocessor?

Computer's Central Processing Unit (CPU) built on a single Integrated Circuit (IC) is
called a microprocessor.

A digital computer with one microprocessor which acts as a CPU is called microcomputer.

It is a programmable, multipurpose, clock -driven, register-based electronic

device that reads binary instructions from a storage device called memory, accepts
binary data as input and processes data according to those instructions and
provides results as output.

The microprocessor contains millions of tiny components like transistors, registers, and
diodes that work together.

Block Diagram of a Microcomputer

Evolution of Microprocessors
We can categorize the microprocessor according to the generations or according to the
size of the microprocessor:

First Generation (4 - bit Microprocessors)

The first generation microprocessors were introduced in the year 1971-1972 by Intel
Corporation. It was named Intel 4004 since it was a 4-bit processor.

It was a processor on a single chip. It could perform simple arithmetic and logical
operations such as addition, subtraction, Boolean OR and Boolean AND.

I had a control unit capable of performing control functions like fetching an instruction
from storage memory, decoding it, and then generating control pulses to execute it.

Second Generation (8 - bit Microprocessor)

The second generation microprocessors were introduced in 1973 again by Intel. It was a
first 8 - bit microprocessor which could perform arithmetic and logic operations on 8-bit
words. It was Intel 8008, and another improved version was Intel 8088.

Third Generation (16 - bit Microprocessor)

The third generation microprocessors, introduced in 1978 were represented by Intel's
8086, Zilog Z800 and 80286, which were 16 - bit processors with a performance like
minicomputers.

Fourth Generation (32 - bit Microprocessors)

Several different companies introduced the 32-bit microprocessors, but the most popular
one is the Intel 80386.

Fifth Generation (64 - bit Microprocessors)

From 1995 to now we are in the fifth generation. After 80856, Intel came out with a new
processor namely Pentium processor followed by Pentium Pro CPU, which allows
multiple CPUs in a single system to achieve multiprocessing.

Other improved 64-bit processors are Celeron, Dual, Quad, Octa Core processors.

Table: Important Intel Microprocessors

Memory
Microprocesso Word
Year addressing Pins Clock Remarks
r Length
Capacity

4004 1971 4-bit 1 KB 16 750 KHz First

 Microprocessor

Popular 8-bit
8085 1976 8-bit 64 KB 40 3-6 MHz
Microprocessor

Widely used in
8086 1978 16-bit 1MB 40 5-8 MHz
PC/XT

16MB real, 4 GB 6-12.5 Widely used in

80286 1982 16-bit 68
virtual MHz PC/AT

132
4GB real, 64TB Contains MMU on
80386 1985 32-bit 14X14 20-33 MHz
virtual chip
PGA

168 Contains MMU,

4GB real, 64TB 25-100
80486 1989 32-bit 17X17 cache and FPU, 1.2
virtual MHz
PGA million transistors

Contains 2 ALUs,2
4GB real,32-bit Caches, FPU, 3.3
237
Pentium 1993 32-bit address,64-bit data 60-200 Million transistors,
PGA
bus 3.3 V, 7.5 million
transistors

It is a data flow
processor. It
64GB real, 36-bit 387 150-200
Pentium Pro 1995 32-bit contains second
address bus PGA MHz
level cache also,3.3
V

All features
Pentium pro plus
233-400 MMX
Pentium II 1997 32-bit - -
MHz technology,3.3 V,
7.5 million
transistors

Improved version
370 600-1.3 of Pentium II; 70
Pentium III 1999 32-bit 64GB
PGA MHz new SIMD
instructions

423 600-1.3 Improved version

Pentium 4 2000 32-bit 64GB
PGA GHz of Pentium III

423 733 MHz- 64-bit EPIC

Itanium 2001 64-bit 64 address lines
PGA 1.3 GHz Processor
Where,
o PGA - Pin Grid Array
o MMX - MultiMedia eXtensions
o EPIC - Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing
o SIMD - Single Instruction Multiple Data
o ALU - Arithmetic and Logic Unit
o MMU - Memory Management Unit
o FPU - Floating Point Unit

Basic Terms used in Microprocessor

Here is a list of some basic terms used in microprocessor:

Instruction Set - The group of commands that the microprocessor can understand is
called Instruction set. It is an interface between hardware and software.

Bus - Set of conductors intended to transmit data, address or control information to

different elements in a microprocessor. A microprocessor will have three types of buses,
i.e., data bus, address bus, and control bus.

IPC (Instructions Per Cycle) - It is a measure of how many instructions a CPU is

capable of executing in a single clock.

Clock Speed - It is the number of operations per second the processor can perform. It
can be expressed in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). It is also called the Clock
Rate.

Bandwidth - The number of bits processed in a single instruction is called Bandwidth.

Word Length - The number of bits the processor can process at a time is called the
word length of the processor. 8-bit Microprocessor may process 8 -bit data at a time.
The range of word length is from 4 bits to 64 bits depending upon the type of the
microcomputer.

Data Types - The microprocessor supports multiple data type formats like binary,
ASCII, signed and unsigned numbers.

Features of Microprocessor
o Low Cost - Due to integrated circuit technology microprocessors are available at
very low cost. It will reduce the cost of a computer system.
o High Speed - Due to the technology involved in it, the microprocessor can work
at very high speed. It can execute millions of instructions per second.
o Small Size - A microprocessor is fabricated in a very less footprint due to very
large scale and ultra large scale integration technology. Because of this, the size
of the computer system is reduced.
o Versatile - The same chip can be used for several applications, therefore,
microprocessors are versatile.
o Low Power Consumption - Microprocessors are using metal oxide
semiconductor technology, which consumes less power.
o Less Heat Generation - Microprocessors uses semiconductor technology which
will not emit much heat as compared to vacuum tube devices.
o Reliable - Since microprocessors use semiconductor technology, therefore, the
failure rate is very less. Hence it is very reliable.
o Portable - Due to the small size and low power consumption microprocessors are
portable.