Fundamental Difference Between 8 And 16-Bit Microcontrollers At the moment, we have two types of microcontrollers which are extremely popular and used for a variety of applications. They are 8 and 16-bit. The first and the main difference is in the length of the data pipe. Obviously, a 16-bit microcontroller has two times longer data pipe than the other version. more intresting stuffs you can find here.
Difference in solving mathematical problems The biggest difference here can be seen in solving math problems. An 8-bit microcontroller is capable of solving just one problem at the moment and it will have to be 8 bits or less. Of course, they can be used for more than 8-bit problems, but the time and the accuracy can be questionable. Here we can see another difference. A 16-bit microcontroller is far more accurate and capable of solving a problem at higher speeds, with a higher accuracy. An AVRmicrocontroller of 16-bit is literally 2 times more efficient than the other type here. In addition, a 16-bit microcontroller can work on two 16-bit numbers at the same time. The timer difference Each microcontroller has a built-in timer. It is essential for its operations. However, an 8-bit version will have a 0x00 timer per a cycle. On the other hand, a 16-bit microcontroller will have 0x0000 timer per a cycle. Again, it is 2 times better. Summary Don’t think that 8-bit microcontrollers are unneeded today. They are still the best choice for simpler and minor operations. But, when you need speed, a 16-bit unit is a much better alternative.