Difference between revisions of "Motorola MC68000"

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{{Infobox CPU
 
{{Infobox CPU
 
| name = MC68000
 
| name = MC68000
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| image = mc68000.jpg
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| imgwidth = 200px
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| caption = MC68000 in a Macintosh SE
 
| manufacturer = [[Motorola]]
 
| manufacturer = [[Motorola]]
 
| family = [[Motorola M68000 Family]]
 
| family = [[Motorola M68000 Family]]
 
| architecture = 32-bit
 
| architecture = 32-bit
| address bus = 24-bit
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| address bus = 23-bit (16-bit word address)
 
| data bus = 16-bit
 
| data bus = 16-bit
 
| year introduced = 1979
 
| year introduced = 1979
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| clock speed = 4 MHz - 16.67 MHz
 
| clock speed = 4 MHz - 16.67 MHz
 
}}
 
}}
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The '''Motorola MC68000''' was the first member of the [[Motorola M68000 Family]] of [[VLSI]] [[microprocessor]]s. Although it was described by Motorola as a "16-bit microprocessor", it is generally considered to be a 32-bit [[architecture]]; it is probably more correct to describe it as a 16-bit '''''implementation''''' of a 32-bit architecture.
  
The '''Motorola MC68000''' was the first member of the [[Motorola M68000 Family]] of [[VLSI]] [[microprocessor]]s. Although it was described by Motorala as a "16-bit microprocessor", it is generally considered to be a 32-bit '''''architecture''''', because in a number of important aspects of an architecture:
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A major failing of the MC68000 was that it could not support [[virtual memory]]; not enough internal state was saved when a [[page fault]] occurred. Several computer makers worked around this by including two separate MC68000 chips; when a fault occurred, the first CPU was 'frozen', and a second fixed up the fault, then re-started the 'main' CPU. This issue was fixed with the successor chip, the [[MC68010]].
  
* Word (address space) size
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{{semi-stub}}
* Register length
 
* Many operations (arithmetical, logical, etc)
 
  
It is probably more correct to describe it as a 16-bit '''''implementation''''' of a 32-bit architecture.
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==External links==
  
A major failing of the MC68000 was that it could not support [[virtual memory]]; not enough internal state was occurred when a fault occurred. Several computer makers worked around this by including two separate MC68000 chips; when a page fault occurred, the first one was 'frozen', and a second fixed up the fault, then restarted the 'main' CPU. This issue was fixed with the successor chip, the [[MC68010]].
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* [http://www.bitsavers.org/components/motorola/68000/ 68000] - documentation at [[Bitsavers]]
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** [http://www.bitsavers.org/components/motorola/68000/MC68000_16-Bit_Microprocessor_Apr83.pdf MC68000 16-Bit Microprocessor] - data sheet
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[[Category: Motorola Microprocessors]]

Latest revision as of 16:37, 8 February 2024


MC68000
Mc68000.jpg
MC68000 in a Macintosh SE
Family: Motorola M68000 Family
Architecture: 32-bit
Manufacturer: Motorola
Year Introduced: 1979
Address bus: 23-bit (16-bit word address)
Data bus: 16-bit
Number of registers: 15 general 32-bit registers (8 data, 7 address)
Clock Speed: 4 MHz - 16.67 MHz


The Motorola MC68000 was the first member of the Motorola M68000 Family of VLSI microprocessors. Although it was described by Motorola as a "16-bit microprocessor", it is generally considered to be a 32-bit architecture; it is probably more correct to describe it as a 16-bit implementation of a 32-bit architecture.

A major failing of the MC68000 was that it could not support virtual memory; not enough internal state was saved when a page fault occurred. Several computer makers worked around this by including two separate MC68000 chips; when a fault occurred, the first CPU was 'frozen', and a second fixed up the fault, then re-started the 'main' CPU. This issue was fixed with the successor chip, the MC68010.

External links