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What Does x86 Mean Anyway?: Instruction Sets

x86 processors use a CISC (complex instruction set computing) architecture, while ARM processors use a RISC (reduced instruction set computing) architecture. The key differences are that CISC can perform tasks using fewer instructions over multiple clock cycles, while RISC breaks tasks into simpler single-cycle instructions. As a result, ARM chips are typically lower power but slower, making them well-suited for mobile devices, while x86 chips are higher power but faster, making them better for desktops where power is less critical. However, these distinctions are blurring as both architectures improve in their respective weaker areas.

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86 views5 pages

What Does x86 Mean Anyway?: Instruction Sets

x86 processors use a CISC (complex instruction set computing) architecture, while ARM processors use a RISC (reduced instruction set computing) architecture. The key differences are that CISC can perform tasks using fewer instructions over multiple clock cycles, while RISC breaks tasks into simpler single-cycle instructions. As a result, ARM chips are typically lower power but slower, making them well-suited for mobile devices, while x86 chips are higher power but faster, making them better for desktops where power is less critical. However, these distinctions are blurring as both architectures improve in their respective weaker areas.

Uploaded by

somisettysreekar
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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With the ever-present rumor of ARM MacBooks gaining renewed energy, it’s

time to get an understanding of the technical differences between ARM


processors and the more common x86 processors made by Intel and AMD.

What Does x86 Mean Anyway?


Intel processors found in desktop and laptop computers are sometimes
referred to as “x86” processors. This can be a little confusing if you’ve ever
noticed your two Program Files folders on Windows.

Windows 7, 8 and 10 refer to their 32-bit programs with the term “x86,” and
their 64-bit programs (in some contexts) as “x64.” That isn’t strictly accurate.
64-bit-capable processors should be referred to as x86-64, but it’s a lot
clunkier.

The “x86” name comes from the original 16-bit Intel processors that used the
x86instruction set, the 8086. Future generations that shared the same
instruction set also shared the same suffix, like the 80386. This kept on until
the Pentium chips, which broke the naming convention, but we still use “x86”
to refer to these kinds of chips.

Instruction Sets
All processors are based around what’s called an “instruction set.” This is a set
of rudimentary operations that a chip can perform and instructions for how to
perform them. It tells the chip how to do basic math and move data around.
The programming language for these instructions is called assembly language.

The core difference between ARM and x86 chips is their instruction set. x86
chips are CISC, which stands for “complex instruction set computing.” CISC
chips attempt to represent a given task in the fewest lines of assembly as
possible, abstracting away basic functions. These more complex operations
also need to run over the course of multiple clock cycles. ARM chips are RISC,
which stands for “reduced instruction set computing.” RISC chips include
extremely rudimentary instruction sets, breaking every process down into
extremely small, simple steps. Each of these smaller steps can be executed in a
single clock cycle.

CISC vs. RISC


If a CISC chip needs to multiply two numbers, it might run a single
command: MULT 2, 3 . This single command will cover loading numbers from
memory, multiply them together, and store the result in the correct memory
location. An RISC chip performing the same operation would require many
more steps. First, a LOAD instruction to move the numbers from the registrars
to the execution unit. Then, a PROD instruction to multiply the numbers.
Finally, a STOR instruction to place the result in the correct register.

While the CISC chip might seem more efficient because its commands appear
simpler, keep in mind a few important differences:

 First, CISC chips execute commands over multiple clock cycles, while
each instruction in a RISC chip is executed over a single clock cycle.
Because of this, our hypothetical MULT command might run in the same
amount of cycles as the set of RISC instructions that perform the same
task.

 Second, all of CISC’s instructions and logic need to be stored in


transistors. RISC chips can use less transistors because they need to
store fewer instructions.
 Third, the lower number of transistors required by RISC allows for lower
power usage.

There are some advantages to CISC. First, the computer doesn’t need to do
much work to convert from a human-level programming language like C to
processor-level assembly language. In fact, the MULT command mentioned
above is very similar to the C command foo = foo * bar . RISC chips ask the
compiler to do a lot more work to get code down into assembly language.
CISC chips can also operate directly on main memory while RISC chips can
only operate on CPU registers.

Power Consumption

The other core difference between the architectures is power usage. Thanks to
their reduced instruction sets, RISC chips require less transistors to function.
This means that fewer transistors need to be powered, leading to power
savings and heat reduction. This has lead to ARM chips powering nearly all
mobile devices.
Intel and AMD’s x86 chips are better for desktop machines where power
consumption isn’t as much of an issue. They’re also included in laptops which
are obviously battery-powered. However, power isn’t at as much of a premium
as in smartphones, allowing for more powerful chips.

Conclusion
The most high-level distinction between the chips is based on power and
speed. ARM chips are great for low-power environments but are typically
slower, while x86 chips work quickly but are not as power-conscious. That
basic generalization is changing, though, as Intel attempts to produce low-
powered versions of its x86 chips, and ARM chips, like Apple’s A10 Fusion,
begin to overtake laptop chips.

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