x86 vs x64 - Why is 32-bit called x86?
Problem
Presumably the x86 was called so because the machines used 80386 and 80486 processors. Is that correct? Is that the right way to refer to 32-bit and 64-bit machines?
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1 Fix
Fix for: x86 vs x64 - Why is 32-bit called x86?
Technically x86 simply refers to a family of processors and the instruction set they all use. It doesn't actually say anything specific about data sizes. x86 started out as a 16-bit instruction set for 16-bit processors (the 8086 and 8088 processors), then was extended to a 32-bit instruction set for 32-bit processors (80386 and 80486), and now has been extended to a 64-bit instruction set for 64-bit processors. It used to be written as 80x86 to reflect the changing value in the middle of the cā¦
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