Difference between revisions of "Other Computers:16 bit computers"

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TYhe 16 bit computers generation killed the 8 bit computers.
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The 16 bit computer generation peacefully "killed" the 8 bit computers.
  
Amstrad couldn't see this move, and released the Amstrad Plus range while it should have got it 16 bited...
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Amstrad couldn't see this move and released the Amstrad Plus range which should have been 16-bit.
 +
(Or perhaps it should have been an hybrid with both a 16-bit CPU and a Z80 to keep compatibility with the old range, why not?)
  
(Or added another Z80 to get a 2x8 bit while kereping the Old range compatibility...why not ?)
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On the other hand, Amstrad was producing affordable 16-bit PC compatibles with pseudo EGA capacity (16 colours), so in this way it was actually a 16-bit producer.
  
On the Other Hand, Amstrad was still producing cheap 16 bit PC compatible with pseudo EGA capacity (16 colours) so was actually a 16 bit producer.
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See [[Amstrad PC]] for more information on Amstrad's ventures into the 16bit world.
  
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Curiously, the 16bit computer era only peaked for a few short years, a much shorter timeframe than the 8bit, 32bit and 64bit computer eras.
  
*Commodore Amiga
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Notable 16-bit machines:
*[[Atari|Atari ST]]
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*TI-99/4 (1979)
*Acorn Archimede
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*[[PC|IBM PC]] (1981), PC/XT (1983), PC/AT (1984), PS/2 (1987)
*PC
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*NEC PC-98 (1982)
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*Apple Lisa (1983)
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*Apple Macintosh (1984)
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*[[Sinclair QL]] (1984)
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*Elektronika BK (1985)
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*[[Atari ST]] (1985)
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*[[Amiga|Commodore Amiga]] (1985)
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*[[Apple II|Apple IIGS]] (1986)
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*[[Amstrad PC|Amstrad PC1512]] (1986)
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*Sharp X68000 (1987)
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*[[MSX|MSX Turbo-R]] (1990)
  
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Notable early 32-bit machines:
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*Compaq Deskpro 386 (1986)
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*Acorn Archimedes (1987)
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*Apple Macintosh II (1987)
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*NeXT Computer (1988)
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*FM Towns (1989)
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*[[Amstrad PC|Amstrad PC2386]] (1989)
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*Atari TT (1990)
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*Amiga 3000 (1990)
  
[[Category:Non CPC Computers]]
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Note: With the advent of 32-bit machines, hardware coprocessors became largely irrelevant for 2D games. The CPU was finally powerful enough to manage it all in software.
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[[Category:Non CPC Computers| ]]

Latest revision as of 18:33, 29 April 2025

The 16 bit computer generation peacefully "killed" the 8 bit computers.

Amstrad couldn't see this move and released the Amstrad Plus range which should have been 16-bit. (Or perhaps it should have been an hybrid with both a 16-bit CPU and a Z80 to keep compatibility with the old range, why not?)

On the other hand, Amstrad was producing affordable 16-bit PC compatibles with pseudo EGA capacity (16 colours), so in this way it was actually a 16-bit producer.

See Amstrad PC for more information on Amstrad's ventures into the 16bit world.

Curiously, the 16bit computer era only peaked for a few short years, a much shorter timeframe than the 8bit, 32bit and 64bit computer eras.

Notable 16-bit machines:

Notable early 32-bit machines:

  • Compaq Deskpro 386 (1986)
  • Acorn Archimedes (1987)
  • Apple Macintosh II (1987)
  • NeXT Computer (1988)
  • FM Towns (1989)
  • Amstrad PC2386 (1989)
  • Atari TT (1990)
  • Amiga 3000 (1990)

Note: With the advent of 32-bit machines, hardware coprocessors became largely irrelevant for 2D games. The CPU was finally powerful enough to manage it all in software.