Computer Fundamentals LAB Report No.

01

Types of Microprocessors
And
History of Storage Media

LAB # 01

Fall 2021
CSE101L Computer Fundamentals Lab

Submitted by: Maaz Khan

Registration No. : (ETEA ID:55002)
Class Section: C

 “On my honor, as student of University of Engineering and Technology, I have neither given
nor received unauthorized assistance on this academic work.”

Student Signature: ______________

Submitted to: 
Engr. Abdullah Hamid
November 22, 2021

Department of Computer Systems Engineering

University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar

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 Computer Fundamentals LAB Report No. 01

 Different Types of Microprocessors

Definition of Microprocessor:
A microprocessor is a central processing unit(CPU) or the brain of
a computer which is located inside a single Integrated circuit (IC).
It is made up of millions of semiconductors & is responsible for
any arithmetic or logical operation.

Types of Microprocessors:
There are different types of microprocessors
designed to be used for specific purposes. It has
been evolved to be used in various different
applications. They are mainly classified into three
major types:

1. CISC Microprocessor
2. RISC Microprocessor
3. Special Purpose Microprocessor

1. CISC Microprocessor
CISC stands for Complex Instruction Set Computer.
This microprocessor is designed to execute complex instructions which
minimize the number of total instructions per program. A complex
instruction has multiple simple instructions like arithmetic operation,
storing in memory, reading from memory and many more.

2. RISC Microprocessor
RISC stands for Reduced Instruction Set Computer.
This type of microprocessor is based on an architecture designed to
execute simple instructions. The instructions are simplified to reduce
the execution time. The instruction is usually completed in one clock
cycle by using pipelining to execute parts of instruction in parallel.
This architecture offers to execute program efficiently and quickly

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3. Special Purpose Microprocessor

There are many types of special microprocessors designed for special purposes. Some of the
special purpose microprocessors are given below:-

 Coprocessor
 Transputer (Transistor Computer)
 DSP (Digital Signal Processor)
 Input/output Processor (IOP)
 Graphics Processors
 Bit-Slice Microprocessors (BSM)
 Scalar and Superscalar Microprocessors
Intel Core Processor
A core processor is an individual processor within a CPU. Many computers today have multi-
core processors, meaning the CPU contains more than one core. Some examples are Intel Core
i3, Intel Core i5, Intel Core i7, and Intel Core i9, along with the X-series of Intel Core CPUs.

 1st Generation(Nehalem)
Nehalem was the Intel processor micro-architecture which was the successor to the initial Core
architecture which had certain limitations like inability to increase the clock speed, inefficient
pipeline, etc. Nehalem was released for production in 2010.
 2nd Generation (Sandy Bridge)
Sandy Bridge micro-architecture was introduced in 2011 to replace Nehalem architecture. Sandy
Bridge uses the 32-nanometer process as opposed to 45 nm used in Nehalem.
 3rd Generation(Ivy Bridge)
Introduced in September 2012, Ivy Bridge processors are faster than Sandy Bridge processors
and use the 22-nanometer process as opposed to 32 nm used in Sandy Bridge.
 4th Generation(Haswell)
Haswell was released by Intel in June 2013. It uses the same 22-nm process as Ivy Bridge. The
performance improvement of Haswell as compared to the Ivy Bridge is from 3% to 8%.
 5th Generation(Broadwell)
Broadwell was released by Intel in 2015. It uses 14-nm process technology which is 37% smaller
in size than its predecessors.
 6th Generation (Skylake)
Intel introduced Skylake, the 6th generation processors in August 2015. Skylake is a redesign of
the same 14-nm technology which was introduced in Broadwell, the 5th generation architecture
 7th Generation (Kaby Lake)
Intel’s 7th generation processors, codenamed Kaby Lake, were introduced in 2016. Kaby Lake is
essentially a refresh of Sky Lake architecture with few efficiencies and power improvements.

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 8th Generation (Kaby Lake R)

In 2017, Intel introduced a refresh of Kaby Lake processors as their new 8th generation release.
 9th Generation (Coffee Lake)
Coffee Lake processors were introduced by Intel in late 2017. With this architecture, Intel Core i9
processors were introduced.
 10th Generation (Cannon Lake/Ice Lake)
Cannon Lake, Intel’s 10th generation architecture, comes with an all-new 10-nm technology. Ice
Lake is produced as the 2nd generation of 10-nm processors .
 11th Generation (Tiger Lake)
The 11th generation Intel, Tiger Lake, is yet to be released. They will be the third generation of
10-nm transistor technology.

 History of Storage Medium

Definition of Storage Medium
A storage medium is a physical device that receives and continues to hold electronic data for
applications and users and makes the data available for retrieval.
History of Storage Medium:
Punch cards were the first effort at Data Storage in a machine language. Punch cards were used
to communicate information to equipment “before” computers were developed.

Charles Babbage proposed the Analytical Engine, a primitive calculator with moving parts that
used punch cards for instructions and responses. Herman Hollerith developed this idea, and
made the Analytical Engine a reality by having the holes represent, not just a sequence of
instructions, but stored data the machine could read.

Magnetic tape was first patented in 1928, by Fritz Pfleumer. In 1965, Mohawk Data Sciences
offered a magnetic tape encoder, described as a punch card replacement.

Vacuum Tubes for Random Access Memory

In 1948, Professor Fredrick Williams, and colleagues, developed “the first” Random Access
Memory (RAM) for storing frequently used programming instructions, in turn, increasing the
overall speed of the computer. Williams used an array of cathode-ray tubes to act as on/off
switches, and digitally store 1024 bits of information.

Semiconductor Memory

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In 1966, the newly formed Intel Corporation began selling a semiconductor chip with 2,000
bits of memory. A semiconductor memory chip stores data in a small circuit referred to as a
memory cell. Memory cells are made up of miniaturized transistors and/or miniaturized
capacitors, which act as on/off switches.

Magnetic Disk Storage

Magnetic drums were the first incarnation of magnetic disk storage. Gustav Taushek, an
Austrian inventor, developed the magnetic drum in 1932.

Optical Discs

In the 1960s, an inventor named James T. Russel thought about, and worked on, the idea of using
light as a mechanism to record, and then replays “music.” And no one took his invention of
the optical disc seriously, until 1975.

Flash Drives

Flash drives appeared on the market, late in the year 2000. A flash drive plugs into computers
with a built-in USB plug, making it a small, easily removable, very portable storage device.
Unlike a traditional hard drive, or an optical drive, it has no moving parts, but instead combines
chips and transistors for maximum functionality. Generally, a flash drives storage capacity
ranges from 8 to 64 GB. (Other sizes are available, but can be difficult to find.)

Solid State Drives (SSD)

Variations of Drives have been used since the 1950s. An SSD is a non-volatile storage device
that basically does everything a hard drive will do. It stores data on interlinked flash memory
chips. An SSD is more expensive than a USB thumb drive of the same capacity SSDs “can” be
portable, but will not fit in your pocket.

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