Risc

/rɪsk/ noun

Definition

Reduced Instruction Set Computer - a type of microprocessor architecture that uses simplified instructions to achieve higher performance.

Etymology

Acronym coined in the early 1980s at UC Berkeley, contrasting with CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computer). The concept emerged from research showing that simpler, more frequent instructions could execute faster than complex ones.

Kelly Says

RISC processors power most of today's smartphones and tablets - by doing less per instruction, they actually accomplish more overall, embodying the engineering principle that elegant simplicity often outperforms complex sophistication.

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