Talk:Microprocessor
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Redundance between articles
there's a similar list on Central processing unit. Do these need merging, or is one the parent article of the other? -- Tarquin 16:57 Jan 5, 2003 (UTC)
Abbreviation: µP
Is a microprocessor actually abbreviated μP? It certainly isn't an abbreviation in common usage, so if this is some specific jargon it should be labeled as such. --Delirium 04:51, Dec 12, 2003 (UTC)
- I think it's an old habit, from the early days when most of the people using μPs (see, it just slipped out :-) ), were EEs, and used to saying μF for capacitors and the like. I see it in my old copies of Byte for instance (one of them also mentioned a North Star μdisc system, heh-heh). uP was a later concession to the limitations of ASCII. This all is worth noting, but as an older and informal usage, doesn't really need to be at the top. Stan 05:12, 12 Dec 2003 (UTC)
- Also, µP and µC (microcontroller) are often used when quickly drawing embedded system concept sketches on a black/whiteboard or for that matter, on the proverbial napkin, so I felt that the abbreviation(s) should be very visibly included in the relevant articles (and made into associated #redirects). The general case, as Stan touches upon, is that µ and other Greek letters are much used in science/engineering environments to save space/time in written material. --Wernher 23:27, 12 Dec 2003 (UTC)
Leonardo's computer
Regarding the claim: There have even been designs for simple computing machines based on mechanical parts such as gears, shafts, levers, Tinkertoys, etc. Leonardo DaVinci made one such design, although none were possible to construct using the manufacturing techniques of the time. ... Does anyone know if the Leonardo DaVinci mechanical 'computer' or 'processor' claim is true? It's not mentioned in the Leonardo article, unless Leonardo's robot is considered a computing device. Reading up on the 'robot' does not sell me on the 'computing' possibility, though it is obviously an impressive contraption for the time. -- Ds13 03:31, 2004 Apr 15 (UTC)
No Intel?
Even though they dominate the desktop computers, there is almost no mention of the x86 family of processors at all in the history section after i386?
MIPS is not only used in embedded systems "like Cisco routers". The PlayStation game consolesare perhaps more well-known?
Contradiction: single versus multiple chips
The initial definition says a microprocessor is implemented on a single chip, which I have always understood to be an essential feature. However, further down the page there is mention of multi-chip 16-bit "microprocessors", which by this definition cannot exist. --Anonymous
- You might have a valid point there, and I've always thought so myself. On the other side, cf. the definition at FOLDOC (http://foldoc.doc.ic.ac.uk/foldoc/foldoc.cgi?query=microprocessor&action=Search) :
- microprocessor <architecture> (Or "micro") A computer whose entire CPU is contained on one (or a small number of) integrated circuits.
- Thus, many two or three-chip CPUs qualify as a µP, such as the RCA CDP1801 and Intel iAPX 432 (which, contrary to my general assumpton, I have always thought to be proper µPs). I think the essential part of the definition is the clause "or a small number of", which precludes CPUs made out of piles of TTL chips, but includes CPUs consisting of, say, 1--4 LSI chips. --Wernher 03:28, 9 Feb 2005 (UTC)