How many bits does a word of storage contain on the IBM-PC?
A word is two bytes. A byte has 8 bits.
Modern PCs have a word size of 32 or 64 bits. Early IBM PCs used an Intel 8088 which had an 8 bit data path.
To determine the number of bits in a word of storage on the IBM-PC, we can take the following steps:
1. Look up the technical specifications: We need to find the specifications of the specific model or generation of the IBM-PC you are referring to. Different models may have different word sizes.
2. Search for the word size: The word size refers to the number of bits that can be processed at once by the computer's central processing unit (CPU). In the case of the IBM-PC, the word size typically refers to the width of the CPU's general-purpose registers.
3. Check the CPU documentation: The CPU documentation of the specific IBM-PC model will provide detailed information about its word size. This information is usually available in the technical manuals or datasheets provided by IBM or the CPU manufacturer.
Once you have identified the specific IBM-PC model, you can search for its technical specifications or CPU documentation to determine the word size or number of bits in a word of storage. Keep in mind that word size can vary depending on the specific model or generation of the IBM-PC.