Questions and Answers
The Altair 8800 was equipped with the Intel 8080 ______
microprocessor
The Altair 8800 marked a pivotal moment in history by being the first home computer with a ______
microprocessor
The Intel 8080 microprocessor could execute instructions at a speed of 2 million instructions per ______
second
The Altair 8800's affordability made it possible for individuals to own a computer and perform computations at ______
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The Intel 8080 was the first microprocessor to be integrated into a ______
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The MITS Altair 680 and the IMSAI 8080 were early machines that also used the Intel ______
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The early computers like the Altair 8800 were typically sold as kits that customers assembled themselves, lowering the barrier to entry for ______ ownership
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The Intel 8080 paved the way for subsequent technological developments such as the Apple II, Commodore 64, and the IBM Personal ______
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The 8088, derived from the 8080 design, had a significant impact on the future of ______
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The x86 architecture, based on the Intel 8088, became a foundation for the success of ______ computing
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Study Notes
The First Microprocessor in a Home Computer: History's Computing Milestone
In the realm of personal computing, the Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS) Altair 8800 stands as a pioneering giant. This iconic machine, released in 1975, marked a pivotal moment in history when a home computer was equipped with a microprocessor for the first time, paving the way for the digital revolution that would follow.
The Altair 8800's brain was the Intel 8080 microprocessor, a 4-bit design that could execute instructions at a blistering speed of 2 million instructions per second (MIPS). This was a significant leap from the previous ENIAC, which required a 26-ton room filled with vacuum tubes to perform calculations. The combination of the Intel 8080 and the Altair 8800's affordability made it possible for individuals to own a computer and perform computations at home, fueling a growing interest in personal computing.
The word "microprocessor" itself is a relatively recent addition to our lexicon, referring to a single integrated circuit chip designed primarily to perform the central processing functions of a computer. Before the Altair 8800, computers were monstrous machines, often taking up entire rooms and requiring teams of professionals to operate and maintain them. The Intel 8080, designed by engineers Marcian "Ted" Hoff, Federico Faggin, and Stanley Mazor, forever changed the way we think about and interact with computers, making them accessible to a broader audience.
The Intel 8080 is far from the only microprocessor in history, but it was the first to be integrated into a home computer, making it a significant milestone. In fact, the 8080 was also used in other early machines, such as the MITS Altair 680 and the IMSAI 8080. These early computers were typically sold as kits that customers assembled themselves, further lowering the barrier to entry for computer ownership.
The Altair 8800 and the Intel 8080 paved the way for subsequent technological developments such as the Apple II, Commodore 64, and the IBM Personal Computer (PC). These machines, and the software that was developed for them, continue to influence the computing world and are integral parts of modern personal computing's history.
In fact, the Intel 8080 and its descendants such as the 8088, which was used in the original IBM PC, had a significant impact on the future of computing. The 8088 was a 16-bit processor derived from the 8080 design, and it played a crucial role in popularizing the IBM PC and Microsoft's DOS operating system. From there, the x86 architecture, based on the Intel 8088, became a foundation for the success of personal computing.
Today, we use computers for everything from communication to banking, entertainment, and cutting-edge scientific research. The microprocessor, which first took root in the home computer, has revolutionized the world, and the Altair 8800 stands as a testament to this tremendous technological shift. The Intel 8080, a humble microprocessor, helped democratize computing, and the Altair 8800, powered by it, brought computing into our homes forever.
