24-bit computing

In computer architecture, 24-bit integers, memory addresses, or other data units are those that are 24 bits (3 octets) wide. Also, 24-bit central processing unit (CPU) and arithmetic logic unit (ALU) architectures are those that are based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size.

Notable 24-bit machines include the CDC 924 – a 24-bit version of the CDC 1604, CDC lower 3000 series, SDS 930 and SDS 940, the ICT 1900 series, the Elliott 4100 series, and the Datacraft minicomputers/Harris H series.^[1]

The term SWORD is sometimes used to describe a 24-bit data type with the S prefix referring to sesqui.^{[citation needed]}

The range of unsigned integers that can be represented in 24 bits is 0 to 16,777,215 (FFFFFF16 in hexadecimal). The range of signed integers that can be represented in 24 bits is −8,388,608 to 8,388,607.

^ Savard, John. "Real Machines with 24-bit and 48-bit words". Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-11.

[1] Savard, John. "Real Machines with 24-bit and 48-bit words". Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-11.

[1]

Computer architecture bit widths
Bit
1 4 8 12 16 18 24 26 28 30 31 32 36 45 48 60 64 128 256 512 bit slicing
Application
8 16 32 64
Binary floating-point precision
16 (×½) 24 32 (×1) 40 64 (×2) 80 128 (×4) 256 (×8)
Decimal floating-point precision
32 64 128
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