Semiconductor & Computer Engineering
From WikiChip
Difference between revisions of "coprocessor"
(coprocessor) |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{title|Coprocessor}} | {{title|Coprocessor}} | ||
A '''coprocessor''' is an auxiliary [[microprocessor]] designed to supplement the functionality of its [[host processor]] typically with a more specialized set of operations such as [[floating point]] arithmetic, [[string processing]], and encryption. Generally, a distinction is made between a coprocessor and a generic [[accelerator]] in how the interaction between the host processor and the coprocessor is done. Whereas a coprocessor is architectural and is typically connected to the internals of the host processor which then passes it instructions to execute, an accelerator is typically viewed as an independent I/O device which is programmed though an interface. | A '''coprocessor''' is an auxiliary [[microprocessor]] designed to supplement the functionality of its [[host processor]] typically with a more specialized set of operations such as [[floating point]] arithmetic, [[string processing]], and encryption. Generally, a distinction is made between a coprocessor and a generic [[accelerator]] in how the interaction between the host processor and the coprocessor is done. Whereas a coprocessor is architectural and is typically connected to the internals of the host processor which then passes it instructions to execute, an accelerator is typically viewed as an independent I/O device which is programmed though an interface. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:accelerators]] | ||
Revision as of 22:26, 20 November 2017
A coprocessor is an auxiliary microprocessor designed to supplement the functionality of its host processor typically with a more specialized set of operations such as floating point arithmetic, string processing, and encryption. Generally, a distinction is made between a coprocessor and a generic accelerator in how the interaction between the host processor and the coprocessor is done. Whereas a coprocessor is architectural and is typically connected to the internals of the host processor which then passes it instructions to execute, an accelerator is typically viewed as an independent I/O device which is programmed though an interface.
