Computer CPU types CISC & RISC

[thorsonb]

CISC - Complex Instruction Set Computer

RISC - Reduced Instruction Set Computer

What do these mean in LAYMANS terms?
I read about them on this site CPU Architecture - introduction to microprocessor design, including CISC and RISC but from that i only understood 10% of that CISC and RISC are :S

Is there anyone out there who can put this in laymans terms (as if it was for a 12 year old)

Thanks in advance

 

[zmatt]

CISC mean complex instruction set. and RISC is reduced instruction set. There is another level of programming, under the normal programming that most people do. This is called machine language is is directly related to RISC and CISC. All they mean is how many instructions the cpu has in its instruction set. If it's CISC it has a lot of different and unique instructions, if it's RISC it doesn't have many. There is a lot that they determine as far how the cpu works, but that's a pretty simple explanation.

All x86 cpus are CISC, as in, the x86 instruction set is a complex one and all cpus that you can use with Windows (the desktop version anyways) are CISC chips. Some examples of RISC are ARM chips in Gameboys and cellphones, and the PowerPC that they used to put in Macs.