Re: Keeping other stuff with addresses (was: What is an N-bit machine?)

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.