Recently, there's been a trend toward processors based on the RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) design: Some example RISC processors are the MIPS, SPARC, PowerPC, ARM, and even Intel's 64-bit processor Itanium.

This guidebook provides an accessible and all-encompassing compendium on RISC processors, introducing five RISC processors: MIPS, SPARC, PowerPC, ARM and Itanium. Initial chapters explain the differences between the CISC and RISC designs, and one clearly discusses the RISC design principles. Roughly the second half of the book is dedicated to MIPS assembly language programming, thereby enabling readers to grasp the concepts discussed in the first half.

Topics and features:

• Includes MIPS simulator (SPIM) download instructions, so that readers can get hands-on assembly language programming experience
• Presents material in a manner suitable for self-study, using several examples in each chapter
• Assembly language programs permit reader executables using the SPIM simulator
• Integrates core concepts to processor designs and their implementations
• Supplies extensive programming examples and figures
• Each chapter begins with an overview and ends with a summary

Guide to RISC Processors provides a uniquely comprehensive introduction and guide to RISC-related concepts, principles, design philosophy, and actual programming, as well as the all the popular modern RISC processors and their assembly language. Professionals and programmers seeking an authoritative and practical overview of RISC processors will find the guide an essential resource, and students in computer architecture and other courses will regard it as an important reference tool.

Written for: Programmers, engineers, and professionals

• Part I--OVERVIEW: Introduction
  • Processor design issues
  • RISC principles
• Part II--ARCHITECTURES: MIPS architecture
  • SPARC architecture
  • PowerPC architecture
  • Itanium architecture
  • ARM architecture
• Part III--MIPS ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE: SPIM simulator and debugger
  • Assembly language overview
  • Procedures and the stack
  • Addressing modes
  • Arithmetic instructions
  • Conditional execution
  • Logical and shift operations
  • Recursion
  • Floating-point operations
• Appendixes: Number Systems
  • Character Representation
  • MIPS Instruction Set Summary
  • Programming Exercises