CISC
Technology & Computing abbreviation · Computer Hardware
| Stands for | Complex instruction set computer |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
CISC stands for Complex instruction set computer, a computer hardware abbreviation.
Processor design with many specialized, variable-length instructions, some of which perform multi-step operations such as loading from memory and calculating in one command. Intel and AMD's x86 is the best-known CISC architecture.
Example: x86 is a CISC design, but internally the chip breaks instructions into simpler micro-ops.
Usage notes
The term was coined as a retronym after RISC appeared, describing earlier designs such as the IBM System/360, the DEC VAX and the Motorola 68000. x86 instructions range from 1 to 15 bytes long. Since the Pentium Pro (1995), x86 processors translate CISC instructions into RISC-like micro-operations, so the practical difference today lies mostly in decoding and legacy compatibility. Pronounced "sisk".
Related abbreviations
More computer hardware abbreviations
- ATX – Advanced Technology eXtended
- BMC – Baseboard management controller
- CD-R – Compact Disc Recordable
- CD-ROM – Compact Disc Read-Only Memory
- CD-RW – Compact Disc ReWritable
- CF – CompactFlash
- CL – CAS latency
- CMOS – Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor
- CMR – Conventional magnetic recording
- CPU – Central processing unit
- CUDA – Compute Unified Device Architecture
- DAS – Direct-attached storage