hi,
While reading(one frescale processor manual) i stuck some where , which specifies that it is a 32 bit processor.
May i know the exact meaning and logic behind that?
/Kanu__
A:
Please check out the Wikipedia entry on 32-bit processors, from the entry:
In computer architecture, 32-bit integers, memory addresses, or other data units are those that are at most 32 bits (4 octets) wide. Also, 32-bit CPU and ALU architectures are those that are based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size. 32-bit is also a term given to a generation of computers in which 32-bit processors were the norm.
Read and understand the article - then the answer for N will be obvious.
Arrieta
2010-08-02 05:11:27
A:
One of the major reasons you would care about the register width of the processor is performance. Generally doubling the number of bits doubles the rate at which a processor can move data around, and compute. This is why we're not all using 8 bit processors.
The other major reason is address space. A 16 bit program counter limits you to 64k of address space, and a 32 bit counter limits you to 4 gigabytes. The new 64 bit processors make it possible, if all the address lines are present, to support 17,179,869,184 gigabytes of memory.
Mike Warot
2010-08-02 06:08:25
But why we are using in the multiple of 8 for address and data bus widths?
Renjith G
2010-08-02 06:15:11