kurt@fluke.UUCP (Kurt Guntheroth) (01/30/84)
The 68000 has a 16-bit data bus, 16-bit internal data paths, and 16-bit ALU.
Those 32-bit registers are really pairs of 16-bit registers inside but you
don't see that.
I would say the 68000 can only be classified as a 16-bit machine. That was
no problem advertising-wise as long as all the competition was 16-bit. Now
there is the NS16032 with 32-bit internals, and the NS32032, which even has
a 32-bit data bus. So Motorola is having to work a little harder to sell
their 16-bit design while trying to come up with a 32-bit one.
(I don't work for Motorola or NSC but I like the 16000)
--
Kurt Guntheroth
John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
{uw-beaver,decvax!microsof,ucbvax!lbl-csam,allegra,ssc-vax}!fluke!kurtpdbain@wateng.UUCP (Peter Bain) (02/03/84)
Sure the 68000 has 16-bit bus interface/data paths/ALU. However, this is the machine's "organization". What the programmer sees is a 32 bit machine, so it is a 32 bit "architecture", as opposed to the 8086, which (I believe) has 16 bit registers. Some of the low end IBM 360/370's had 8-bit data paths. Are you going to call THEM 8-bitter's? -peter