Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) is a computer system design philosophy that was introduced in the 1980s to enhance computer performance by reducing instruction cycles. The spelling of RISC according to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is /rɛˈdjuːst ɪnˈstrʌkʃən sɛt kəmˈpjuːtɪŋ/. It is a compound word that starts with the stressed syllable "re-" followed by "duced" which is pronounced with a "juː" sound. The second part of the word, "instruction", is pronounced with the main stress on the second syllable, and "set" and "computing" are pronounced with secondary stress.
Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) is a computer architecture design that focuses on simplicity and efficiency. It is a type of processor design that aims to streamline the execution of computer instructions by reducing the complexity and number of instructions to perform specific tasks.
In RISC, the instructions are simplified and standardized, with a limited number of highly optimized instructions that can be executed in a single clock cycle. This approach diverges from Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC), which has a larger set of instructions that can perform more complex tasks but may require multiple clock cycles to complete.
The key principles of RISC include a small set of simple instructions, a load/store architecture where data transfer between memory and registers is explicitly performed by separate instructions, and fixed-length instructions with a uniform format. Additionally, RISC processors often utilize pipelining and employ techniques like branch prediction and register renaming for improved performance.
By focusing on simplicity and efficient instruction execution, RISC processors can achieve higher performance and lower power consumption compared to their CISC counterparts. They are commonly found in embedded systems, mobile devices, and high-performance computing applications where speed and power efficiency are essential.
In summary, Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) is a computer architecture design that simplifies and optimizes instructions to enhance performance and efficiency.