What is the reason for replacing 16-bit processors with 32-bit, and then 64-bit? Is it possible with modern technical processes and the presence of various SIMD extensions to create a full-fledged device with a 16-bit architecture of the main arithmetic-logical device that can compete with modern counterparts (provided that all software and operating systems are written purposefully) in the media / mobile sphere? Are there any modern general purpose 16-bit processors out there today?
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Yes, 16-bit CPUs have use in embedded systems. Sometimes, power efficiency is more important than performance. There are even 8-bit CPUs still in use! But not for general-purpose computing. – Cody Gray - on strike Jul 08 '21 at 09:32
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This is the answer to some other question. I'm interested in the reason for the transition from 16 to 32 bit architectures (this is the main question). – Peter Levenberg Jul 11 '21 at 03:30