Register–memory architecture

In computer engineering, a register–memory architecture is an instruction set architecture that allows operations to be performed on (or from) memory, as well as registers.[1] If the architecture allows all operands to be in memory or in registers, or in combinations, it is called a "register plus memory" architecture.[1]

In a register–memory approach one of the operands for operations such as the ADD operation may be in memory, while the other is in a register. This differs from a load–store architecture (used by RISC designs such as MIPS) in which both operands for an ADD operation must be in registers before the ADD.[1]

An example of register-memory architecture is Intel x86.[1] Examples of register plus memory architecture are:

  • IBM System/360 and its successors, which support memory-to-memory fixed-point decimal arithmetic operations, but not binary integer or floating-point arithmetic operations;[2][3][4]
  • PDP-11, which supports memory or register source and destination operands for most two-operand integer operations;[5]
  • VAX, which supports memory or register source and destination operands for binary integer and floating-point arithmetic;[6]
  • Motorola 68000 series, which supports integer arithmetic with a memory source or destination, but not with a memory source and destination. However, the 68000 can move data memory-to-memory with nearly all addressing modes.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Michael J. Flynn (1995). Computer architecture: pipelined and parallel processor design. pp. 9–12. ISBN 0867202041.
  2. ^ IBM System/360 Principles of Operation (PDF). IBM. September 1968. A22-6821-7.
  3. ^ IBM Enterprise Systems Architecture/370 Principles of Operation (PDF). IBM. August 1988. SA22-7200-0.
  4. ^ z/Architecture Principles of Operation (PDF). IBM. September 2017. SA22-7832-11.
  5. ^ pdp11 processor handbook pdp11/04/34a/44/60/70 (PDF). DEC. 1979. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  6. ^ VAX Architecture Reference Manual (PDF). Digital Equipment Corporation. 1987. EY-3459E-DP.
  7. ^ MC68020 32-Bit Microprocessor User's Manual (PDF). Motorola. 1984. MC68020UM[ADI).