Microprocessors Overview and History

A tiny, self-contained computer with the processor, memory, and input/output lines all on one chip.

The first patent for a single-chip microprocessor was awarded to Texas Instruments in 1973 for their TMS1000 chip.

A type of microprocessor that has a very simple instruction set, making it faster and more efficient for specific tasks.

A company that was a spinoff of General Instrument (GI) and focused on creating calculator chips.

A patent that describes a computer design where all components – processor, memory, and input/output – are on one chip.

A type of microprocessor commonly used in embedded systems, which are devices that are part of larger systems and perform specific tasks.

Two key players in the early microprocessor development, both involved in a patent cross-licensing agreement.

A technique where the layout of a microchip is drawn at a magnified scale on a transparent film.

A type of memory that is used for storing instructions that the microprocessor can directly execute.

A microprocessor is a central processing unit (CPU) built onto one or a few integrated circuits (ICs). It takes in digital data, processes it based on instructions stored in memory, and produces results.

Microprocessors are versatile and can be used for a wide range of tasks including computations, text editing, multimedia, internet communication, and controlling devices.

Before the advent of microprocessors, CPUs were built using multiple, larger ICs. These designs were expensive, less reliable, and slower due to the number of connections and the distance signals had to travel.

The Apollo Guidance Computer was a custom-built processor used in the NASA Apollo missions. This shows how microprocessors were already crucial for complex tasks even in their early stages.

Microprocessors integrate the entire CPU onto a single chip or a few chips. This reduces cost, increases reliability due to fewer connections, and improves performance by minimizing signal travel distances.

Microprocessors made it possible to produce computers in large quantities at affordable prices. This led to the widespread adoption of computers and the digital revolution.

The adoption of microprocessors drastically reduced the size and power consumption of computers. This enabled the development of portable devices like laptops and mobile phones.

Intel's series of microprocessors, including the 8086, 80186, 80286, and the 32-bit 80386, aimed for backwards compatibility, ensuring earlier programs could run on newer processors.

The 80186 and 80188 were enhanced versions of the 8086 and 8088, featuring built-in peripherals. However, these peripherals and their memory locations were incompatible with the IBM PC standard, preventing their use in IBM-compatible computers.

The 8086 and its successors used a segmented memory system, a limited approach, while the 80286 introduced a more sophisticated segmented memory management unit (MMU) for improved memory management.

The 80386 revolutionized memory management by introducing a flat 32-bit memory model with paged memory management, simplifying memory addressing and making it more efficient.

A microprocessor design company that pioneered licensing, allowing other companies to use their designs for their own chips.

Early x86 processors (up to 80386) lacked dedicated hardware for floating-point calculations. To address this, Intel released a series of math coprocessors - 8087, 80287, and 80387 - providing hardware support for floating-point and transcendental functions.

A popular 8-bit microprocessor design created by WDC.

The first Apple computer, released in 1976, used the 6502 microprocessor.

A popular home computer released in 1977, also using the 6502.

Another popular home computer released in 1977, it also used the 6502.

The 6502 was the central processing unit used in this iconic home computer.

A successor to the 6502, it featured an extra digital I/O port and a tri-state address bus. The Commodore 64 used this CPU.

This floppy disk drive for the Commodore 64 had its own 6502 processor.

The Atari 2600 video game console used this offshoot of the 6502 design.

The Nintendo Entertainment System and Famicom used a specific version of the 6502 microprocessor.

The Intel 8008, introduced in 1972, was the first commercially available 8-bit microprocessor. It was designed for a specific application (the Datapoint 3300 computer) but later gained broader popularity.

The 8008's successor, the Intel 8080, released in 1974, offered significant performance improvements over its predecessor and required fewer support chips. The 8080 played a key role in the early personal computer revolution.

The Zilog Z80 (1976) was a powerful 8-bit microprocessor that significantly improved on the Intel 8080's architecture. It is known for its wide compatibility with 8080 software and its performance.

The Motorola 6800 (1974) was a popular 8-bit microprocessor that competed directly with Intel's offerings. It was used in a variety of applications, including early personal computers.

The MOS Technology 6502 (1975), a rival to the Z80, was a cost-effective and powerful 8-bit microprocessor. It is famous for its use in iconic computers like the Apple II, Commodore 64, and Atari systems.

The MOS Technology 6510, a variation of the 6502, was used in the popular home computer, the Commodore 64.

The Western Design Center's CMOS 65C02 (1982) was a CMOS version of the 6502, known for its low power consumption. It featured in the Apple IIe and IIc computers and various industrial devices.

The low cost, compact size, and simplicity of 8-bit microprocessors, along with additional integrated features like memory refresh circuitry, fueled the home computer revolution of the early 1980s.