What is the difference between a processor and a microprocessor?

Answer 1

A microprocessor is a computer chip which executes instructions. It is part of a computer.

A microcomputer is, well, a computer. It has a microprocessor, memory, I/O, etc There are three difference between microprocessor and microcomputer: 1. Microprocessor is one component of the microcomputer. 2. Microcomputer is a complete computer similar to any other computer. 3. The term peripheral is used for input/output devices. Peripheral: able to be attached to and used with a computer, though not an integral part of it.

Answer 2

Look; A processor is a very general term. Take a look at what wikipedia has to say about a processor, it gives you a disambiguation page, because the term can refer to so many things. Generally, processor would be "the part of a computer that interprets (and executes) instructions". A microprocessor, is a CPU that is in just one IC (chip). For example, the CPU in a PC is in a chip so it can also be refered to as microprocessor. The GPU core (of the graphics card) is also a chip so it could also be called a microprocessor (though the GPU is less flexible and is optimized to only one task, than the CPU which handles a large number of very different tasks). Microprocessors would also be the northbridge, southbridge, or any other chips that hold a CPU of some kind. I believe it has come to be called a microprocessor, because in the older days processors would nomally be implemented in many ICs, so it was considered quite a feat to include the whole CPU in one chip that they called it a "microprocessor" I had some difficulty distinguishing between other associated, similar terms too, but don't pay too much attention to it, because nobody else really does.

Answer 3

Micro processor simply means that the entire processor is built on one chip.