Difference Between Microprocessor and Microcontroller

Table of Contents

What is a Microprocessor and Microcontroller?

A microprocessor is a controlling unit of a micro-computer wrapped inside a small chip. It performs Arithmetic Logical Unit (ALU) operations and communicates with the other devices connected with it. It is a single Integrated Circuit in which several functions are combined.

A microcontroller is a chip optimized to control electronic devices. It is stored in a single integrated circuit which is dedicated to performing a particular task and execute one specific application.

It is specially designed circuits for embedded applications and is widely used in automatically controlled electronic devices. It contains memory, processor, and programmable I/O.

Microprocessor vs. Microcontroller

Here is the difference between Microprocessor vs. Microcontroller

Name Details	Microprocessor	Microcontroller
Application	It used where intensive processing is required. It is used in personal computers, laptops, mobiles, video games, etc.	It used where the task is fixed and predefined. It is used in the washing machine, alarm, etc.
Structure	It has only the CPU in the chip. Other devices like I/O port, memory, timer is connected externally. The structure of the microprocessor is flexible. Users can decide the amount of memory, the number of I/O port and other peripheral devices.	CPU, Memory, I/O port and all other devices are connected on the single chip. The structure is fixed. Once it is designed the user cannot change the peripheral devices.
Clock speed	The clock speed of the microprocessor is high. It is in terms of the GHz. It ranges between 1 GHz to 4 GHz.	The clock speed of the microcontroller is less. It is in terms of the MHz. it ranges between 1 MHz to 300 MHz.
RAM	The volatile memory (RAM) for the microprocessor is in the range of the 512 MB to 32 GB.	The volatile memory (RAM) for the microcontroller is in the range of 2 KB to 256 KB.
ROM	The hard disk (ROM) for the microprocessor is in the range of the 128 GB to 2 TB.	The hard drive or flash memory (ROM) is in the range of the 32 KB to 2 MB.
Peripheral interface	The common peripheral interface for the microprocessor is USB, UART, and high-speed Ethernet.	The common peripheral interface for the microcontroller is I2C, SPI, and UART.
Programming	The program for the microprocessor can be changed for different applications. The programming of the microprocessor is difficult compared to the microcontroller.	The program for the microcontroller is fixed once it is designed.
Bit size	It is available in 32-Bit and 64-bit.	It is available in 8-bit, 16-bit, and 36-bit.
Cost	The cost of the microprocessor is high compared to the microcontroller.	It is cheaper.
Power consumption	The power consumption for the microprocessor is high.	The power consumption for the microcontroller is less.
Size	The overall size of the system is large.	The overall size of the system is small.

Structure of Microprocessor and Microcontroller

The microprocessor is used in the very intensive processes. It only contains a CPU (central processing unit) but there are many other parts needed to work with the CPU to complete a process. These all other parts are connected externally. The microprocessor chip is not containing all these parts internally. The number of external parts and the size of the external parts depends on the application. Generally, it connected with memory elements like RAM and ROM, I/O ports, timers, serial interface, etc. The advantage of the microprocessor is that it has a flexible structure. It means you can decide the size of RAM, ROM, number of I/O ports and can modify all the things which are connected externally according to the application.

Microcontrollers are used to do the same assigned task repeatedly. Hence, the number of I/O ports and the amount of memory required is less compared to the microprocessor. As told earlier, in microcontroller external parts are integrated with CPU in a single chip and because of this integrated structure the overall size of the microcontroller is smaller compared to the microprocessor. In microcontroller you cannot modify the size of RAM, ROM and other components. Once a controller is designed the structure is fixed. So, the structure of the microcontroller is not flexible.

Types of Microprocessor and Microcontroller

Important types of Microprocessors are:

Complex Instruction Set Microprocessors
The Application Specific Integrated Circuit
Reduced Instruction Set Microprocessors
Digital Signal Multiprocessors (DSPs)

Here are important types of Microcontroller:

8 bit Microcontroller
16 bit Microcontroller
32 bit Microcontroller
Embedded Microcontroller
External memory Microcontroller

History of Microprocessor and Microcontroller

Here, are the important landmark from the history of Microprocessor

Fairchild Semiconductors invented the first IC (Integrated Circuit) in 1959.
In 1968, Robert Noyce, Gordan Moore, Andrew Grove found their own company Intel.
Intel grew from 3 man start-up in 1968 to industrial giant by 1981.
In 1971, INTEL created the first generation Microprocessor 4004 that would run at a clock speed of 108 kHz
From 1973 to 1978, second-generation 8-bit microprocessors were fabricated like Motorola 6800 and 6801, INTEL-8085, and Zilog’s-Z80.
In 1978, Intel 8008 third-generation process came into the market.
In the early 80s, Intel released fourth-generation 32-bit processors.
In 1995, intel released in fifth-generation 64-bit processors .

Here, are important landmarks from the history of Microcontroller:

First used in 1975(Intel 8048)
The introduction of EEPROM in 1993
The same year, Atmel introduced the first microcontroller using Flash memory.

Features of Microprocessor and Microcontroller

Here are some important features of Microprocessor:

Offers built-in monitor/debugger program with interrupt capability
Large amount of instructions each carrying out a different variation of the same operation
Offers Parallel I/O
Instruction cycle timer
External memory interface

Here are some important features of Microcontroller:

Processor reset
Program and Variable Memory (RAM) I/O pins
Device clocking central processor
Instruction cycle timers

Applications of Microprocessor and Microcontroller

Microprocessors are mainly used in devices like:

Calculators
Accounting system
Games machine
Complex industrial controllers
Traffic light
Control data
Military applications
Defense systems
Computation systems

Microcontrollers are mainly used in devices like:

Mobile phones
Automobiles
CD/DVD players
Washing machines
Cameras
Security alarms
Keyboard controllers
Microwave oven