Difference between microprocessor and microcontroller
An increase in memory was not the only upgrade, as speeds increased exponentially. The 4th and 5th generation in the late 80’s and early 90’s gave way to 64-bit microprocessors. This increase in memory size saw a rise in its uses as it could now be used to do arithmetic calculations. The late 70’s was the dawn of the third generation with Intel releasing the first ever 16-bit microprocessor the 8086. This was an 8-bit microprocessor which was quite popular commercially. The second generation in 1972 saw the release of the 8080 microprocessor. Due to its small size, the 4004 microprocessor could not perform mathematical calculations. In the early 70’s Intel released the 4004 microprocessor a 4-bit chip that ran at a clock speed of 108 kHz. The microprocessor has dramatically evolved over the years. Embedded systems such as mobile phones, cars, military weapons, home appliances and many more. The main purpose for it’s invention was to be utilized in embedded systems. The 1970’s saw the invention of the Microprocessor. The microprocessor and other parts of the computer work together in achieving the goal to compute arithmetic and logical functions using a set of instructions to perform tasks within a computer. The central processing unit is essentially the brain of a computer and can consist of one or more microprocessors made up of thousands of transistors located on an integrated chip. A microprocessor is a computer processor that incorporates the functions of a CPU that can be found on a single integrated chip. The Microprocessor in its simplest definition is an electronic component designed to carry out computational tasks.Īt the heart of a computer is located a central processing unit (CPU).
Let’s get started with the Microprocessor.
Things such as the structure, memory, speed, application are just some of the few differences.īefore we dive in deeper at the differences, I shall give you an overview of the basics of the Microprocessor and Microcontroller. Maybe you are like me and when you first heard these terms you assumed that they were just two ways of referring to the same thing.īut, after learning more about them over the years, there are many differences between the microprocessor and the microcontroller. When it comes to the world of electronics, you would have definitely come across the terms, Microprocessor and Microcontroller.