Should modern IA-32 processors classify as CISC or RISC?

[theprogrammer]

It seems like modern IA-32 processors are more like a hybrid of RISC and CISC. But of all the text books I've read, IA-32 is classified as CISC processors. However, I can't find any official papers that state it clearly whether modern IA-32 processor, say Pentium 4, is a RISC processor or CISC processor.

I'm hoping thatany intel engineers herewould give me a definite answer to it. Thank you very much.

[Vladimir_Dudnik]

Hi,

answer is simple - modern IA32 processors are of course CISC processors, butinside, on core level, they have some features whichcan be classified asRISC architecture.

In any case, let's leaveclassification job for marketing people, engineers usually more interested with real features and how to use them to take all possibilities hardware can provide:)

Regards,

Vladimir