808x features Both 8088 and 8086 can be used in multiple CPU systems. 8086 - uses a 16 bit data bus and supports 8 bit or 16 bit data transfer. 8088 - uses an 8 bit data bus. In order to provide the full address, data and control signals, pins are dual tasked. The 8088 became the preferred CPU for IBM because the pin out for the chip was easily adaptable to an already popular 8-bit motherboard.