1-bit computing: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:46, 30 October 2021

Revision as of 13:47, 30 October 2021

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In [[computer architecture]], '''1-bit''' [[integer (computer science)|integer]]s or other [[Data (computing)|data]] units are those that are {{nowrap|1 [[bit]]}} (1/8 [[octet (computing)|octet]]) wide. Also, 1-bit [[central processing unit]] (CPU) and [[arithmetic logic unit]] (ALU) architectures are those that are based on [[processor register|register]]s of that size.

There are no computers or [[microcontroller]]s of any kind, that are exclusively 1-bit for all registers and [[address bus]]es. A 1-bit register can only store 2¹ different values, i.e. 0 or 1 (off or on, respectively). This is very restrictivesnd therefore not enough for a [[program counter]] (which, on modern systems, implemented in an on-chip register), that isn't implemented on-chip in some 1-bit systems. [[Opcode]]s for at least one 1-bit processor architecture were 4-bit and the address bus was 8-bit.

While 1-bit CPUs are obsolete, the first [[carbon nanotube computer]] is a 1-bit [[one-instruction set computer]] (and has only 178 transistors).<ref>{{cite web |title=First Computer Made From Carbon Nanotubes Debuts |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/semiconductors/devices/first-computer-made-from-carbon-nanotubes-debuts |first=Rachel |last=Courtland |date=25 September 2013 |website=IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News |access-date=18 April 2021}}</ref>