How many transistors in the 6502 processor?

From: Richard Erlacher <edick_at_idcomm.com>
Date: Sun May 6 11:48:09 2001

I doubt it was really 68K transistors. If you multiply out the number of
transistors needed to implement the registers and counters, then add 50% for the
ALU and double the whole thing for the control logic, you'll probably have as
good a count.

Keep in mind that gate counts can be manipulated quite a bit by the marketing
guys. When you're building a gate, you can build a transistor with two
emitters. That functions as an AND gate. If you need a 3-input AND gate,
however, though it can be built with just another emitter the marketing guys
will tell you it's actually three AND gates. Transistor counts are probably not
that important.

Dick

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Chase" <bdc_at_world.std.com>
To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2001 9:29 PM
Subject: Re: How many transistors in the 6502 processor?


> On Sat, 5 May 2001, Mike Cheponis wrote:
>
> > >From Microprocessor Report, in chronological order:
>
> > 6502: 4K transistors 21 mm^2
>
> Nice, now if I could only get enough info to implement one in TTL. :-)
> Silly, yes, but it would be a fun project.
>
> > 68000 68K transistors 44 mm^2
>
> I thought this was an interesting coincidence... the 68K transistor
> count I mean.
>
> -brian.
>
>
Received on Sun May 06 2001 - 11:48:09 BST