RISC : Reduced Instruction Set Computer. A RISC system has a reduced number of instructions (making it easier to implement efficient optimizing compilers) and more importantly it is load store architecture where pipelining can be implemented easily. e.g. IBM PowerPC, ARM, Intel i960
CISC : Complex Instruction Set Computer. A CISC system has complex instructions (making it easier for a human to directly program in assembly language) such as direct addition between data in two memory locations. e.g. Intel Pentium (x86), DEC MicroVAX, Motorola 680x0
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