What Is A Parallel And Pipelined Processor?

Pipeline processing is a system used in advanced microprocessors, where the microprocessors perform a second instruction before the first one has been completed. This means that the pipelined processor has several instructions in the 'pipeline' at one time, each at different stages of processing. The pipeline is split into various segments and each segment can perform an operation concurrently with the other segments. When one segment finishes an operation, it moves the result to the next segment in the pipeline and fetches the next operation form the previous segment. Due to this, the ultimate result of every instruction appears at the end of the pipeline in quick succession. You can find pipeline processors in the form of common microprocessors used in personal computers. The Intel's Pentium's chip is an example of a microprocessor.

Parallel processing refers to the simultaneous working of more than one CPU to perform a particular programme. Due to parallel processors, a programme works faster because of more than one CPU running them. There are many models of computers which have more than one CPU. With a single CPU, it is easy to perform parallel processing by linking the computers in a single network. Parallel processing makes use of sophisticated software known as distributed processing software.  Please note that parallel processing is not the same as multi-tasking in which a CPU performs many programs at once.