title: Is x86 RISC or CISC?
body: <p>According to Wikipedia, x86 is a CISC design, but I also have heard/read that it is RISC. What is correct? I'd to also like to know <strong>why</strong> it is CISC or RISC. What determines if a design is RISC or CISC? Is it <em>just</em> the number of machine language instruction a microprocessors has or are there any other characteristics that determine the architecture?</p>