Final answer:
An 8-bit address bus limits CPU addressable memory to 256 locations, hindering performance for memory-intensive tasks, while an 8-bit data bus results in slower processing speeds compared to CPUs with wider data buses, making it suitable for simpler tasks only.
Step-by-step explanation:
The impact of a microprocessor having an 8-bit local address bus and an 8-bit data bus is significant on the speed and overall performance of a computer system. The size of the address bus determines how many unique memory locations the CPU can address directly, while the size of the data bus indicates how much data it can transfer in one operation.
An 8-bit address bus limits the CPU to addressing only 256 unique locations (2^8), which restricts the amount of directly addressable memory. This could significantly impede performance if the system requires more memory to run programs efficiently.
As for the 8-bit data bus, this constrains the CPU to a maximum of 8 bits of data in one operation, which can lead to slower processing speeds when compared to processors with wider data buses. More data transfers would be required to process the same amount of information as a processor with, for example, a 16-bit or 32-bit data bus.
In summary, the restricted addressable memory range and the limited data throughput of an 8-bit system mean that it is suitable for simpler tasks that do not require extensive memory or rapid data processing but would significantly lag behind in more demanding applications.