16-bit computing (redirected from 16-bit CPU)

16-bit computing

Refers to CPUs that process 16 bits as a single unit. The first personal computers in the late 1970s used 8-bit CPUs, but migrated to 16 bits with the IBM PC in 1981. In the mid-1980s, PCs migrated to 32 bits with the Intel 386, and the Mac debuted with the 32-bit Motorola 68000 CPU. See 386 and 68000.

The 16-bit CPUs are still used as embedded processors in myriad products that do not require the higher speed. However, over the years, a lot of design effort went into 32-bit CPUs, making them faster, more efficient, smaller and less expensive and competitive with 16-bit CPUs for numerous embedded applications. See 8-bit computing, 32-bit computing and bit specifications.

                  Bytes
      CPU       Processed
  Environment  At one time

    64-bit        8

    32-bit        4

    16-bit        2

     8-bit        1