hardware multiply/divide functionality in CPUs

[Brent Hilpert]

On 2011 Mar 8, at 12:14 PM, Chuck Guzis wrote:
> On 8 Mar 2011 at 11:56, Brent Hilpert wrote:
>> Looking through the Osborne book (Introduction to Microcomputers -
>> Some Real Products / 1976), here's another to add to the list: the
>> MicroNova/9440 microprocessor ca 1977 had built-in 16-bit multiply and
>> divide instructions.
>>
>> Can anyone comment on how much use or production the MicroNova or
>> Fairchild 9440 chips actually saw?
>
> I mentioned the MicroNova.

Sorry, going back to your earlier message I see that. I think I skimmed 
over it first time and thought of the mini rather than the microproc.

You say the 9440 doesn't have M/D, the book does explicitly indicate 
they are present for the 9440 .. the book is in error?


> If you weren't DoD-related, you could forget getting the 9440, 9445,
> 9450...CPUs.  Fairchild wouldn't give you the time of day on those.
>
> Same for the I2L versions of the TI 9900.