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KembaraXtra–Computer Terms – 16-bit machine
A 16-bit machine is a computer whose processor or data bus handles data in 16-bit increments. A system may be considered 16-bit because its central processor executes 16-bit instructions internally, because its data bus transfers 16 bits at a time, or due to both characteristics. Examples include the IBM PC/AT series, which used the Intel 80286 processor, and early Macintosh systems like the Macintosh Plus and Macintosh SE. Although these early Macs used the Motorola 68000, a chip with a 32-bit internal word length, their external data paths were only 16 bits wide, effectively placing them in the 16-bit class. These machines provided significant advancements over earlier 8-bit computers, delivering greater processing power and more advanced software capabilities.
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