Last Updated on March 14, 2023 by Prepbytes
Computers are used everywhere in the modern world and in the computer, the Central Processing Unit (CPU) plays an important part in working. But the CPU is also divided into many components and one of the components is the register. Register in computer architecture can be referred to as small, high-speed memory locations inside the CPU. Register in computer architecture plays an essential part in the execution of instructions. We will see what are registers in computer architecture, the types of registers in computers with their explanation, along with the advantages and disadvantages of registers in computers.
What are Registers in Computer Architecture?
Register in computer architecture can be referred to as fast memory that can be used to execute operations and programs efficiently. The registers in the computer are able to do this because they give access to the commonly used values and to do so several registers work in proper coordination with each other and computer memory.
The quick recovery of data for the CPU’s processing is the only reason for having a register. Even though using a hard disc makes reading RAM commands somewhat quicker, the CPU still cannot use this speed. There are memories in the Processor that can access data from RAM that is about to be performed in advance for even faster processing. The next fastest thing after registers is cache memory, which is still slower than registers.
A set of flip-flops and barriers make up a register. Flip-flops store the binary data, while gates manage when and how new data is added to a register. Commercially, a variety of registration models are offered. The simplest register is one with no exterior gates and only flip-flops. Registers are now incorporated as register files as well.
A command, a storage location, or any other type of data could be stored in a register (such as a bit sequence or individual characters). Registers are mentioned in some instructions as a component of the command. For instance, a command might state that the contents of two designated registers should be combined, and then the results should be stored in a particular register.
A register needs to be big enough to contain a command; for instance, a register in a 64-bit computer needs to be 64 bits long. Smaller registers, like half-registers, are sometimes used in computer systems for shorter commands. Registers can be numbered or can have random titles depending on the CPU architecture and language constraints.
Several index registers, also known as address registers or registers of change, are frequently found in processors. The base, index, and relative addresses—all of which are kept in the index register—make up the functional address of any object in a computer. An additional kind is a shift register. At one end of the shift register, bits enter, and at the other, they exit. The data is stored and processed by flip flips, also referred to as bistable gates.
Types of Registers in Computer Architecture
There are several types of registers used in computers below is a list of some of the most commonly used registers.
- Accumulator Register(AC)
- Address Register(AR)
- Data Register(DR)
- Instruction Register(IR)
- Input Register(IR)
- Program Counter(PC)
- Temporary Register(TR)
- Output Register(OR)
Accumulator Register
The Accumulator Register can be abbreviated as AC and it is mainly used to store the result of logical and arithmetic operations. This is also used as a temporary storage location for the data during the calculations. This is most commonly used by every computer as they provide dedicated memory locations for storing the data and results of the logical and arithmetic calculations and operations
Address Register
The Address Register or AR is a type of register that is mainly used to hold the memory address of the data that the CPU wants to read or write to. The CPU uses AR to specify the memory location that it wants to access. The Memory Data Register (MDR) is used in conjunction with the AR to transfer the data between the CPU and memory.
Data Register
As the name suggests the Data Register or DR is the register that stores the data that is written to memory or read from memory. Mainly DR is used to transfer the data between CPU and memory. It will work in conjunction with Memory Address Register as it specifies the memory location that the CPU wants to access.
Instruction Register
The IR or Instruction Register holds or stores the instruction that is currently in execution. The CPU mainly uses IR to get the instruction, decode it and decide which operations have to be performed to execute the instruction. It is a fixed-size register hence it stores only one register at a time.
Input Register
As the name suggests the input register is used to store the input that is given to the CPU from an external device or source like a mouse or keyboard. This is mainly used in conjunction with I/O(Input/ Output) instructions that transfer the data between external devices and the CPU.
Program Counter
The program counter or PC is also a type of register in computer architecture and it is used to hold the memory address of the next instruction that has to be executed. This will not remain constant as it is automatically updated by the CPU after each instruction is executed. The CPU will increment it by 1. This will allow the CPU to control the flow of the program. PC can be considered an important part of the CPU’s instruction-fetching and execution cycle.
Temporary Register
The intermediate result of the calculations is stored in these registers. There is not any specific purpose for temporary registers so they can be used for any purpose by the CPU and because of this they also sometimes refer to as the general-purpose register. It can also be used to store the intermediate data between many calculations or complex calculations.
Output Register
This will store the result or the output from the CPU to an external device, such as a printer or monitor. It is used in conjunction with the input/ Output instructions to transfer the data between external devices and the CPU. It is also used to store the data temporarily that is to be shown as output so the CPU can continue to execute further.
Functions of Registers in Computer Architecture
Registers in computer architecture have several features some of which are given below:
- Data Storage: Registers are used for the temporary storage of data or instructions during the execution of the program. They are mainly used to store information for a small time so that the CPU can access it quickly.
- Data Processing: We can perform various logical and arithmetic operations with the help of a register and the data of these instructions is stored in the accumulator register.
- Addressing: Registers are used to store memory addresses they can store the address of the instruction or the data that the CPU wants to access either to read from or write to.
- Data Transfer: Registers are used to transfer data between CPU and memory. Some of them hold the data that is read from or written to memory.
- Control: We can control the order of execution of instructions as some register wills tore the current instruction and some will store the next instruction to be stored.
Advantages of Registers in Computer Architecture
Registers in Computer architecture have several advantages some of which are explained below.
- Speed: They are designed to work with high speeds they can access the data way faster than the main memory.
- Efficiency: They are only designed to store a small amount of data that can be easily accessed by the CPU and because of this they are highly efficient in terms of data storage.
- Control: We can control the order of instructions or flow of instructions. With the help of the PC, we can change the address of the next instruction to be executed.
Disadvantages of Registers in Computer Architecture
Some disadvantages of the registers in computer architecture are given below.
- Limited Capacity: We cannot store more data in registers as they are designed to store only a small amount of data. This will create problems in some of the applications.
- Cost: They have higher speed because they are made with high-speed memory cells so this will increase the cost of the CPU.
- Complexity: They are a bit complex which will overall increase the complexity of the CPU.
Conclusion
A basic component of computer design, registers are essential to the execution of commands. They are compact, high-speed memory devices used to briefly hold information or commands while a program is running. Registers have a number of benefits, including control, adaptability, economy, and speed. They do, however, have some drawbacks, such as low capacity, high expense, and intricacy. In computer engineering, registers are used for many different things, such as CPU design, cache design, graphics processing, and multimedia processing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the Frequently Asked Questions about register in computer architecture.
1. Explain the role of registers in processor design.
Registers are considered to be an essential part of the CPU as they can perform operations, and store data.
2. Explain the role of registers in the cache design of computer architecture.
They can be used to store the frequently accessed data, thus reducing the number of times the data need to be accessed hence improving the performance.
3. What is the role of registers in graphics processing in computer architecture?
Registers are used in graphics processing to store information about the position, color, and texture of objects in a scene.
4. Can other parts of computer architecture access the register?
They are mainly accessed by the CPU but some parts can access them indirectly through memory access.
5. Mention various types of registers.
There are some groups of registers like special purpose registers, control registers, and general-purpose registers.