Answer to Question #160288 in Assembler for Saidur Rahman

Question

What are the major differences between a microprocessor and a microcontroller?

Answer 1

A microprocessor is a controlling unit of a micro-computer wrapped inside a small chip. It performs Arithmetic Logical Unit (ALU) operations and communicates with the other devices connected with it. It is a single Integrated Circuit.

A microcontroller is a chip optimized to control electronic devices. It is stored in a single integrated circuit which is dedicated to performing a particular task.

KEY DIFFERENCES:

-         Microprocessors are based on Von Neumann model. Micro controllers are based on Harvard architecture

-         Microprocessor consists of only a Central Processing Unit, whereas Micro Controller contains a CPU, Memory, I/O all integrated into one chip

-         Microprocessor uses an external bus to interface to RAM, ROM, and other peripherals. Micro controllers uses an internal controlling bus

-         As all the peripheral of microcontroller are on single chip it is compact while microprocessor is bulky

-         Microprocessors: Due to external components, the total power consumption is high. Therefore, it is not ideal for the devices running on stored power like batteries. Micro Controller: As external components are low, total power consumption is less. So it can be used with devices running on stored power like batteries

-         Most of the microprocessors do not have power saving features. Most of the microcontrollers offer power-saving mode.

-         Microprocessor has a smaller number of registers, so more operations are memory-based. Microcontroller has more register. Hence the programs are easier to write.

-         Processing speed of microcontrollers is about 8 MHz to 50 MHz, but in contrary processing speed of general microprocessors is above 1 GHz so it works much faster than microcontrollers.

-         Microprocessor: Cost of the entire system is high. Micro controllers: Cost of the entire system is low

-         Microprocessor 's used for general purpose applications that allow you to handle loads of data. Micro controllers . It's used for application-specific systems. Tasks performed by microcontrollers are limited and generally less complex