From: Tony Duell <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
>Why limit yourself to 8-32 bits, though? What's wrong with 4 bit
>machines, 64 bit machines, etc :-). I have a few of the former (mostly
as
>embedded systems in measuring instruments). Can't hink of anything I've
>got wit a wider-than-32 bit data path, but I certainly wouldn't refuse
>such a machine...
Yes, 10, 18, 24 bits are some of the more interesting of the oldies.
I've found with builing or at least designing on paper that unless you
want to do an existing machine there is little reason to do what
others have. Sizes like 8 and 24 bits are very useful but 4bits
can make the ALU core very simple without ruling out complex
capability (though slow).
The other direction is control oriented machines that are programable
but otherwise specific.
Allison
Received on Sat Nov 11 2000 - 16:03:05 GMT