Researched
Microprocessor
Intel’s 4004 puts a complete processor on one chip: computers become small and cheap enough for everyone.
Open in the interactive tree →The Intel 4004 (November 1971; Federico Faggin, Ted Hoff, Stanley Mazor, Masatoshi Shima) had 2,300 transistors and was originally meant for Busicom desktop calculators. The 8080 (1974) and 8086 (1978) turned it into the basis of microcomputers. Since then almost every device, from cars to toothbrushes, contains a processor.
Prerequisites
- Stored-Program Architecture1945The microprocessor is a single-chip version of the stored-program computer
- Integrated Circuit1958-1959
- MOSFET and CMOS chips1959The 4004 was built from silicon-gate MOS transistors