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19. Micro-instructions and the Microcode


  • A computer program is executed as a series of individual CPU instructions.

  • CPU instructions constitute a machine-language level of abstraction.

  • Collections of logic circuits necessary to execute individual instructions are called microcode.

  • At the microcode level, there is a collection of programs that actually implement the instructions.

  • The micro-instructions are normally stored in permanent memory of the CPU itself.

  • LC-3, the little computer:

      LC-3, the little computer.

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