Re: A86:semi on topic:x86 assembly

To: <assembly-86@lists.ticalc.org>
Subject: Re: A86:semi on topic:x86 assembly
From: "David Phillips" <david@acz.org>
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1999 15:04:03 -0700
References: <0.9b994235.2576ee13@aol.com>
Reply-To: assembly-86@lists.ticalc.org


The first IBM PC used the Intel 8088 processor.  This was a descendent from
the 8080 and 8085.  The Z80 was Zilog's clone of the 8080, that was
completely object code compatible with the 8080, but had many, many more
features.  The 8088 was similiar to the Intel 8086.  Both were 16 bit
processors, but the 8088 had an 8 bit external bus, while the 8086 had a
full 16 bit bus.  IBM chose the 8088 because it was cheaper.  Intel's later
processors in the 8086 line were the 80186, 80286, 80386, etc., up until the
processors that modern desktop computers are using today.  The 80186 never
really caught on, but the 80286 did.  For market reasons, presumably, the 80
part was dropped, so it just became the 286.  As you'll notice, all of the
cpu's in that line ended in 86, so the general name of that line is 'x86'.
The Pentium is really the 80586 cpu, but Intel started to name their cpu's
so that the name could be copyrighted, as a number cannot be copyrighted.

Basically, when you hear someone talking about 'x86' computers, or 'x86
assembly', they mean PC's or PC assembly.


Hope this helps,

David Phillips

>
> what is x86?
>
>

References:

Re: A86:semi on topic:x86 assembly

From: MikeT843@aol.com