What do you think ST stands for?

[Ross PK]

Sixteen - Thirty Two (whatever that means) or Sam Tramiel?

[telengard]

I was going to say STupendous!

 

From wikipedia

 

The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two",[1] which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals.

 

So just how official is wikipedia?? Now I'm wondering what TT could be...

 

~telengard

Edited July 20, 2007 by telengard

[Ross PK]

Well, it seemed to have 16 bit graphics, what would the 32 bit chip have been used for if anyone knows?

[ggn]

Oh, the number game. Dunno, ST=16/32 and TT=32/32 is the explanation I hear most.

 

For me it stands for something that I spent about half my life on, and never regretting a sigle second

[+remowilliams]

Well, it seemed to have 16 bit graphics, what would the 32 bit chip have been used for if anyone knows?

The chip you are talking about is the 68000 CPU in the ST, or the 68030 CPU in the TT. So it was used for everything

 

ST=16/32 and TT=32/32 is the explanation I hear most.

That is what I understand to be correct.

[tjlazer]

Now I'm wondering what TT could be...

 

~telengard

 

Don't be silly mate! It means Thirty Two Thirty Two since it is truely a 32-bit computer.

Edited July 22, 2007 by tjlazer

[guus.assmann]

The 16 is because the 68000 is officially a 16 bit processor.

But as it has many 32 bit registers, this gives the second number.

[MrMartian]

The 16 is because the 68000 is officially a 16 bit processor.

But as it has many 32 bit registers, this gives the second number.

 

There are many ways to determine the "bitness" of a processor, and it can often be different than that of the system.

 

The best way is to look at the register model of a processor itself. In this way, the 68000 (in fact, all the 680x0 family) is 32-bit. All the data and address registers are 32-bit, and all programming is done to a 32-bit model. The fact that the 68000 only brings out a 16-bit data bus, and 24-bit address bus, is only a price consideration, especially for the era it came out in. There was even a 68008, which had an 8-bit data bus, for even lower cost systems. Because the programming model was always 32-bit from the start, programs didn't need to be re-written to take advantage of more addressing space, etc, when newer processors came out. (Except for the people who used the upper 8 bits of an address register to hold extra information, which was just a dumb idea from the start)

 

So, the ST designation came from it being a 16-bit system (due to the external bus of the 68000) with a 32-bit processor. The TT is truly a 32-bit system with a 32-bit processor.

[ijor]

The best way is to look at the register model of a processor itself. In this way, the 68000 (in fact, all the 680x0 family) is 32-bit. All the data and address registers are 32-bit, and all programming is done to a 32-bit model. The fact that the 68000 only brings out a 16-bit data bus, and 24-bit address bus, is only a price consideration, especially for the era it came out in...So, the ST designation came from it being a 16-bit system (due to the external bus of the 68000) with a 32-bit processor.

 

The "ST" stands for the 68000 processor itself being considered 16/32. It is not because of the data bus, it is because of the internal CPU architecture. The register model is 32-bit, but most internal operations and buses are 16-bit. In particular and mostly important, the ALU is 16-bit. Which means that most 32-bit operations are slower than 16-bit ones.

[Retro Rogue]

So Tired

[+Random Terrain]

Stupid Twerps

 

Silly Teens

 

Substandard Turd

 

[jens]

Something terrific.

[SINGLE TOOTH]

Super Terminal

[Math You]

In the UK, some women say ST's as an abbreviation for Sanitary Towels!

[carmel_andrews]

Super Tramiel....Not! (to using an americanism)

 

i like the 'super turd' jibe (probably used by amiga owners and cbm/AT employees when refering to their 'competition')

[Cyprian]

1-ST or FirST

[TwiliteZoner]

Oh, the number game. Dunno, ST=16/32 and TT=32/32 is the explanation I hear most.

 

For me it stands for something that I spent about half my life on, and never regretting a sigle second

 

You're in good company.

Edited August 3, 2007 by TwiliteZoner

[Paolo]

ME TOO!

(this is obviously going to be a me too'er thread, so ... )

[thomasholzer]

16-bit bus, 32-bit CPU:

The Motorola 68000 is a 32-bit CISC microprocessor.

[Gorf]

The 16 is because the 68000 is officially a 16 bit processor.

But as it has many 32 bit registers, this gives the second number.

 

 

Actually a 16/32 bit processor. It's all the 32 bits it needs internally. Externally its 16 bits.

[FastRobPlus]

Stupid Thread?

[ijor]

Actually a 16/32 bit processor. It's all the 32 bits it needs internally...

 

Once again, no. It doesn't have internally "all the 32 bits it needs". As several of us pointed it more than once, the ALU is 16-bit.

[dwhyte]

I always thought the address bus was 24 bit on the ST....