Question

Briefly compare and contrast Array Processors and Multiprocessors. Mention at least two similarities and three dissimilarities.

Answer 1

Brief comparison, contrast, differences, and similarities between Array Processors and Multiprocessors:

Two similarities:
* They both are used in parallel computer systems.
* They both are structural classes.
* They both are two different concepts in Computer Architecture.
* They both are used for computation purposes.
* They both vary along a single dimension.
* They both are used for quick, easy, and efficient processing of data.

Three differences:
Array Processors:
* They are called vector processors.
* The fundamental difference is the processing elements operate synchronously.
* It is an asynchronous parallel computer.
* They let single instruction to be operated on multiple data streams.
* Handles multiple data elements all at the same time, parallelly.
* They are optimized for array operations.
* They have their own set of instructions.
* They support large memory block moves.
* Support logical operations on many array elements
* It itself may be a multi-processor.
* It may even be massively parallel.
* They carry out computations on large arrays of data.
* They consume more time to complete work.
* They are less complicated for the scheduling process.
* They use multiple synchronized Arithmetic Logic Units (ALUs) for achieving spatial parallelism.
* Several processors are centrally controlled.
* They are used to boost a computer's performance.
* They are computer processors with an architecture designed specifically for processing arrays of numbers or such as matrices.
* They are advantageous only for programs with vectored instructions in a high percentage.

Multiprocessors:
* The fundamental difference is processors operate asynchronously.
* It is called Multiple Instruction stream, Multiple Data stream (MIMD).
* They achieve asynchronous parallelism through an interactive processor set with shared resources such as memories, databases, etc.
* It is a computer system with multiple Central Processing Units (CPUs) sharing full access to a common Random Access Memory (RAM).
* They let multiple instructions to be operated on multiple instructions.
* They handle multiple processes all at the same time including multiple data elements in each process.
* They have more or less independent processors.
* They consume less time to complete work.
* They are more complicated for the scheduling process.
* It provides concurrency that is not used to speed up the individual job's execution, but the whole system's global throughput.
* Suitable for performing concurrent processing.
* Every processor has direct access to global data that is stored in pr1mary memory.
* The interaction times are faster in InterProcessor Communication.