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CISC, or Complex Instruction Set Computer, is a CPU architecture that uses a large and complex set of instructions, allowing processors to perform multi-step operations or addressing modes within a single instruction. CISC designs aim to reduce the number of instructions per program, minimizing memory usage and simplifying coding in assembly language. Common in x86 processors, CISC contrasts with RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer), which uses simpler instructions executed at higher speeds. CISC is widely used in general-purpose computing for its flexibility and backward compatibility.
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