DEC Alpha - Data Types

Data Types

In the Alpha architecture, a byte was defined as an 8-bit datum, a word as a 16-bit datum, a longword as a 32-bit datum, a quadword as a 64-bit datum and an octaword as a 128-bit datum.

The Alpha architecture originally defined six data types:

  • Quadword (64-bit) integer
  • Longword (32-bit) integer
  • IEEE T-floating-point (double precision, 64-bit)
  • IEEE S-floating-point (single precision, 32-bit)

To maintain a level of compatibility with VAX, the 32-bit architecture the Alpha succeeded, two VAX data types were included:

  • VAX G-floating point (double precision, 64-bit)
  • VAX F-floating point (single precision, 32-bit)

The Alpha had some provision for future expansion of the instruction set to include 128-bit data types.

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