What is the Relationship Between Integrated Circuits and Microchips? from John Snow's blog

Technological hardware components have always been a point of interest for people. People always wish to know about their functioning and the assistance they provide to each other for holistic work execution. Here we are talking about integrated circuits and microchips. There is a relationship shared by both, which makes their inclusion in the computer system an important one.

Waiting for the ice of doubt to break?

Well, the truth is that they share a close relationship. Understanding them would help to gain more clarity.

• What is an Integrated Circuit?

An integrated circuit refers to a computer component or semiconductor chip that gives refuge to numerous transistors for the production process. The process of making it might seem complex, but it is quite simple.The basic structure of MOS transistors gets integrated into a small silicon wafer piece. The particular connection between MOS transistors ensures that the functionality reaches its epitome, for better delivery across a larger setup.

Integrated circuits were first developed in the 1960s by IT professionals who attempted to shrink circuits to the size of a thumb. This act helped reduce extra expenditure, consumes lesser space, and appears more efficient.

The function of an Integrated Circuit is to feature as a single component performing heavy functions like signal processing and amplifying, along with other sophisticated digital calculations. Integrated circuits draw a relation with microchips when it comes to sophisticated digital calculations.

• What is a Microchip?

Another discovery about the relationship between Integrated circuits and microchips has been made.Microchips are integrated circuits but on the contrary, all integrated chips aren't microchips. Silicon wafers formed the base in the early days where thousands of transistors helped a microchip execute its functioning.

Microchip executes its function in resemblance to a supercomputer brain, as against the other integrated chips available in the market. It executes the various arithmetic and logical instructions that are programmedinto it during manufacturing.

Talking about the components of a microchip, there is one control unit, a register array, and an Arithmetical and Logical Unit (ALU). Numerous consumers consider Microchips to be an integral part of the computer CPU. In reality, its functionality extends across smartphones, Personal computers, and laptops. On numerous occasions, microchips also get developed as Graphic Processor Units (GPU).

Comparing their electronic designs

The chances are that in electronic designs, you get to deal with Integrated circuits more. Sorting the details and looking into the functionality of Microchips might be a humongous task and assuming its functional similarity with Integrated Circuits might be a wrong assumption.

In terms of speed and power supply, the Integrated circuits are quite efficient. They consume less energy. On the contrary, Microchips consume higher energy which might raise a few eyebrows concerning their efficiency. Microchips are more vulnerable to the voltage derived, where a sudden voltage drop will impact their functioning.

Final Thoughts

Both circuits have their distinctive functional behavior and results. The close relationship shared between the two proves to be a revolutionary addition to the hardware department that is helping people achieve better heights.