Xenix ? - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

13 Nov 2001

From: Douglas Quebbeman &lt;dhquebbeman(a)theestopinalgroup.com&gt;

...
   While it is
true the 8086/8088 is really only a 8 bit cpu, 
No, the 8086 is a 16-bit cpu with a 16-bit data path; the 8088
otoh is a 16-bit CPU with an 8-bit datapath (or a 16-bit multiplexed
data path, if you prefer). 

I'd rephrase the latter as:

The 8088 has the same 16-bit core CPU as 8086 with an 8-bit wide
_external_ datapath.

Whats important about the 8088 is it was the first(or one of the first) to
seperate the CPU core (control, alu and registers) from the bus interface.

Then again you have Z280, an 8bit cpu with an 16bit wide external data path.
Hows that for a switch?

Allison