Editing Microprocessor (section)

===Speed and power considerations===
[[File:Intel i9-9900K.jpg|thumb|Intel Core i9-9900K (2018, based on [[Coffee Lake]])]]
Microprocessors can be selected for differing applications based on their word size, which is a measure of their complexity. Longer word sizes allow each [[clock cycle]] of a processor to carry out more computation, but correspond to physically larger integrated circuit dies with higher standby and operating [[power consumption]].<ref name="cmicrotek">CMicrotek.
[http://cmicrotek.com/wordpress_159256135/?p=22 "8-bit vs 32-bit Micros"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714123158/http://cmicrotek.com/wordpress_159256135/?p=22 |date=2014-07-14 }}.</ref> 4-, 8- or 12-bit processors are widely integrated into microcontrollers operating embedded systems. Where a system is expected to handle larger volumes of data or require a more flexible [[user interface]], 16-, 32- or 64-bit processors are used. An 8- or [[16-bit]] processor may be selected over a 32-bit processor for [[system on a chip]] or microcontroller applications that require extremely [[low-power electronics]], or are part of a [[mixed-signal integrated circuit]] with noise-sensitive on-chip [[analog electronics]] such as high-resolution analog to digital converters, or both.
Some people say that running 32-bit arithmetic on an 8-bit chip could end up using more power, as the chip must execute software with multiple instructions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Managing the Impact of Increasing Microprocessor Power Consumption|url=http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~mobile/elec518/readings/Intel/gunther01power.pdf|website=[[Rice University]]|access-date=October 1, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003085353/http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~mobile/elec518/readings/Intel/gunther01power.pdf|archive-date=October 3, 2015}}</ref>
However, others say that modern 8-bit chips are always more power-efficient than 32-bit chips when running equivalent software routines.<ref name="freeman" >Wayne Freeman.
[https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/microcontrollers/article/21802087/11-myths-about-8bit-microcontrollers "11 Myths About 8-Bit Microcontrollers"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812175959/https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/microcontrollers/article/21802087/11-myths-about-8bit-microcontrollers |date=12 August 2022 }}.
2016.
quote:
"Basically, by getting your work done faster, you can put the CPU in sleep mode for longer periods of time. Thus, 32-bit MCUs are more power-efficient than 8-bit MCUs, right? Wrong."</ref>