The Evolution of the Microprocessor
Only once in a lifetime will a new invention come about to touch every aspect
of our lives. Such a device that changes the way we work, live, and play is a special
one, indeed. The Microprocessor has been around since 1971 years, but in the last few
years it has changed the American calculators to video games and computers (Givone
1). Many microprocessors have been manufactured for all sorts of products; some
have succeeded and some have not. This paper will discuss the evolution and history
of the most prominent 16 and 32 bit microprocessors in the microcomputer and how
they are similar to and different from each other.
Because microprocessors are a subject that most people cannot relate to and do
not know much about, this paragraph will introduce some of the terms that will be in-
volved in the subsequent paragraphs. Throughout the paper the 16-bit and 32-bit mi-
croprocessors are compared and contrasted. The number 16 in the 16-bit microproces-
sor refers how many registers there are or how much storage is available for the mi-
croprocessor (Aumiaux, 3). The microprocessor has a memory address such as A16,
and at this address the specific commands to the microprocessor are stored in the
memory of the computer (Aumiaux, 3). So with the 16-bit microprocessor there are
576 places to store data. With the 32-bit microprocessor there are twice as many
places to store data making the microprocessor faster.
Another common term which is mentioned frequently in the paper is the oscil-
lator or the time at which the processors "clock" ticks. The oscillator is the pace
maker for the microprocessor which tells what frequency the microprocessor can proc-
ess information, this value is measured in Mega-hertz or MHz. A nanosecond is a
measurement of time in a processor, or a billionth of a second. This is used to measure
the time it takes for the computer to execute an instructions, other wise knows as a cy-
cle.
There are
of our lives. Such a device that changes the way we work, live, and play is a special
one, indeed. The Microprocessor has been around since 1971 years, but in the last few
years it has changed the American calculators to video games and computers (Givone
1). Many microprocessors have been manufactured for all sorts of products; some
have succeeded and some have not. This paper will discuss the evolution and history
of the most prominent 16 and 32 bit microprocessors in the microcomputer and how
they are similar to and different from each other.
Because microprocessors are a subject that most people cannot relate to and do
not know much about, this paragraph will introduce some of the terms that will be in-
volved in the subsequent paragraphs. Throughout the paper the 16-bit and 32-bit mi-
croprocessors are compared and contrasted. The number 16 in the 16-bit microproces-
sor refers how many registers there are or how much storage is available for the mi-
croprocessor (Aumiaux, 3). The microprocessor has a memory address such as A16,
and at this address the specific commands to the microprocessor are stored in the
memory of the computer (Aumiaux, 3). So with the 16-bit microprocessor there are
576 places to store data. With the 32-bit microprocessor there are twice as many
places to store data making the microprocessor faster.
Another common term which is mentioned frequently in the paper is the oscil-
lator or the time at which the processors "clock" ticks. The oscillator is the pace
maker for the microprocessor which tells what frequency the microprocessor can proc-
ess information, this value is measured in Mega-hertz or MHz. A nanosecond is a
measurement of time in a processor, or a billionth of a second. This is used to measure
the time it takes for the computer to execute an instructions, other wise knows as a cy-
cle.
There are
Bibliography: Mitchel, H.J. 32-bit Microprocessors. Boston: CRC Press. 1986,1991 Titus, Christopher A. 16-Bit Microprocessors. Indiana: Howard W. Sams & Co., Inc. 1981 Aumiaux, M. Microprocessor Systems. New York: John Wiley & Sons. 1982 Givone, Donald D.; Rosser, Robert P. Microprocessors/Microcomputers. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company. 1980 Avtar, Singh. 16-Bit and 32-Bit Microprocessors: Architecture, Software, and Interfacing Techniques: New Jersey. Englewood Cliffs. 1991