
Comparing microprocessors
Some more general features
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In practice, every microprocessor on sale now satisfies the eight essen-
tial points listed in Chapter 5, and most of them have features that
correspond to the desirable aspects listed there as well. However, micro-
processors differ from each other in several different ways, each of
which makes a particular device more or less suitable for a specific job.
Word
size
Most microprocessors use one-bit, four-bit, eight-bit or 16-bit words,
although there are a few with intermediate word sizes such as 10 or 12.
In general, the cost of a system increases steadily with the number of
bits used