On 2016-Jun-30 22:21:27 +0300, Diomidis Spinellis wrote: >First, the 8088 was a 16-bit CPU with an 8-bit data bus in a cheap >40-pin package. This halved the number DRAM chips required and allowed >the IBM PC to be easily designed along existing easily-available 8-bit >peripherals. In contrast the 68000 had a 16-bit data bus in a more >expensive 64-pin package. Remember that in the 1980s glue logic was >implemented through simple TTL chips, so adopting the 68000 might have >doubled the number of chips on the motherboard. My understanding was that the 8-bit bus was a requirement so IBM could have a 64KB base model using the then new 64k×1 chips. IBM also emasculated the PC so it didn't compete with their existing minis. The 68008 wasn't available until later (and this would explain why Motorola pushed the 6809 as a solution). Both the 8086 and M68k could relatively easily use 8-bit peripherals (both Intel and Motorola had a range of 8-bit peripherals that they didn't want to make instantly obsolete). >In addition, the 8086 architecture was an extension of the 8080 one, >which made it easier to make the MS-DOS API compatible with the CP/M Since IBM was buying the software, I'm not sure how much of a driver this was. Definitely, porting from 8080 to 8086 was easier but writing from scratch would be far easier on M68k. -- Peter Jeremy -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: signature.asc Type: application/pgp-signature Size: 949 bytes Desc: not available URL: