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From: Thomas Koenig <tkoenig@netcologne.de>
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: Keeping other stuff with addresses (was: What is an N-bit
 machine?)
Date: Sun, 1 Dec 2024 17:53:19 -0000 (UTC)
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Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> schrieb:
> Thomas Koenig <tkoenig@netcologne.de> writes:
>
>> I think "ALU can add up to n-bit numbers" is a reasonable definition
>> for an n-bit architecture, which also fits the 16-bit 68000.
>> It does not fit the 360/30, or the Nova (but see de Castro's remark
>> on the latter).
>
> To me, the phrase "n-bit architecture" should depend only on such
> characteristics as are defined by the architecture, and not depend
> on features of a particular implementation.  The 360/30 has a 32-bit
> (or is it 64-bit?) architecture, but only an 8-bit implementation.
>
> If I may add a personal note, it's disappointing that postings in a
> group nominally devoted to computer architecture routinely ignore
> the distinction between architecture and implementation.

I'm well aware of that distinction.

On the other hand, I have right before me a book with the title
"MC68000 16-BIT MICROPROCESSOR User's manual third edition", ISBN
0-13-566695-3 (in paperback).   One may argue that the authors
of that book didn't know what they were writing about (since the
68000 has a 32-bit ISA), but I would try to define the terms in
such a way that this is also included.