Memory Architecture: Flynn's Taxanomy

distinguishes multiprocessor architecture according to how they can be classified along two independent dimensions of instruction and data

Single Instruction, Single Data (SISD)

• serial (non-parallel) computer
• the most common type of computer
• single instruction: operates on only one instruction per clock cycle
• single data: only one data stream is being used as input per clock cycle
• example: most modern day PCs, minicomputers

Single Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD)

• a type of parallel computer
• single instruction: all processors execute the same instruction at any given clock cycle
• multiple data: each processor can operate on different data
• best suited for specialized problems characterized by high degree of regularity, eg image processing
• eg: the thinking machine CM-2

Multiple Instruction, Single Data(MISD)

-not practical

*the only known example of this class of PC is the Carnegie Mellon C.mmp computer (1971)

Multiple Instruction, Multiple Data (MIMD)

• multiple processors
• highest level of parallelism
• example: current supercomputers, networked parallel computer clusters @ "grid", multi-processor PCs
• many MIMD architectures include SIMD subcomponents
  
  
  by CHONG CAI NING B031210080