Sunday, September 8, 2013

Microprocessor Unit(MPU) & Micro-controller Unit(MCU)




1. What is the full form of 'MPU' & 'MCU'?
Ans: MPU: Microprocessor Unit; MCU: Micro-controller Unit.

2. What is the difference between MPU & MCU?
Ans:
Microprocessor
Micro Controller
Microprocessor is heart of Compute system.
Micro Controller is a heart of embedded system.
It is just a processor. Memory and I/O components have to be connected externally
Micro controller has external processor along with internal memory and i/O components
Since memory and I/O has to be connected externally, the circuit becomes large.
Since memory and I/O are present internally, the circuit is small.
Cost of the entire system increases
Cost of the entire system is low
Due to external components, the entire power consumption is high. Hence it is not suitable to used with devices running on stored power like batteries.
Since external components are low, total power consumption is less and can be used with devices running on stored power like batteries.
Most of the microprocessors do not have power saving features
Most of the micro controllers have power saving modes like idle mode and power saving mode. This helps to reduce power consumption even further.
Since memory and I/O components are all external, each instruction will need external operation, hence it is relatively slower.
Since components are internal, most of the operations are internal instruction, hence speed is fast.
Microprocessor have less number of registers, hence more operations are memory based
Micro controller have more number of registers, hence the programs are easier to write.
Microprocessors are based on von Neumann model/architecture where program and data are stored in same memory module
Micro controllers are based on Harvard architecture where program memory and Data memory are separate
Mainly used in personal computers
Used mainly in washing machine, MP3 players
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