Co-Processors

Co-Processors

• The co-processors has been specially designed to take care of mathematical,graphics signal processing, string processing, or encryption 
• A coprocessor is a computer processor used to supplement the functions of the primary processor (CPU) 
• co-processors can accelerate system performance 
• The intel has developed 80X87 series of co-processors for 80x86 family of microprocessors 
• For example Intel has developed 8087 co-processors for 8086/8088 processors 
• From 80486Dx on wards Intel has started integrating the co-processors with microprocessors with on-chip co-processor

INTEL-8087

• The co-processors Intel-8087 has been developed to work with 8086/8088 system in maximum mode 
• The 8087 is 40-pin DIP Ic

• Architecture of 8087 math co-processor as shown in fig above