What is the difference between a RISC and CISC processor?

A RISC processor is designed using the Reduced Instruction Set Computing philosophy. This means it has a limited number of simple instructions. This results in high performance when fewer cycles occur, and is ideal for portable devices, as its more simplistic hardware design draws less power and generates less heat. It does however require more cycles to achieve a more complicated operation.A CISC processor uses the Complex Instruction Set philosophy. This type of processor has many more instructions available for use than a RISC processor, and these instructions can often take multiple FDE cycles to complete. Less memory is required in a CISC architecture as fewer instructions are required to carry out a complex task. CISC architecture has a tendancy to be more complex than RISC as more complicated instructions require more complex hardware. This also results in higher power draw and greater heat generation, making the CISC processor much less portable.