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Very simply, the PowerPC line is a Reduced instruction set (RISC) processor. The Intel x86 processor line is a Complex instruction set CISC processor.

Complex instruction set computers have as a goal, providing an array of powerful instructions, so that programs can be simple, and rely on the processor to do a lot of the work.

RISCchips take an alternate philosophy, and provide fewer instructions on the chip, but offer greater optimization and speed for the instructions they do provide. Theoretically, RISC processors can do a lot of things faster than a CISC processor can do them, especially since compilers often aren't good at optimizing code to take advantage of all the instructions that CISC processors provide. The theory goes, that it's easier for a compiler to optize generated code.

2006-10-06 21:24:31 · answer #1 · answered by Gizmo L 4 · 0 0

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