35 years of Intel chips: Born from ... random?

Today, November 16, 2006, Intel microprocessor chips will turn 35 years old. But most of us almost don't know the processor chip - the foundation of every modern computer line today - is just the result of a random . accident.

Intel's first microprocessor chip - the Intel 4004 Microprocessor - sparked a major global technological revolution because it was the first product to be able to pack basic components with a computer. programable into a single chip.

Since then, the microprocessor chip has allowed device manufacturers to produce smarter, more compact PCs, elevators, digital cameras, cell phones, and mobile phones. But that's not what Intel wanted when it launched the Intel 4004 Microprocessor chip - the first chip in the world.

Random 'revolution'

Initially the 4004 microprocessor was designed to be a part of a Japanese manufacturer's computer. At the moment, most of Intel's leaders are not expected in 4004.

But then the strong development of the microprocessor chip quickly turned Intel and several PC product firms into giants in the global IT industry. That achievement is achieved from a random design.

' I think the processor chip has brought the future to Intel. But 15 years ago we didn't realize that, 'said Intel President Andy Grove. ' Microprocessor chips have become a key business for Intel. But about 10 years ago they only considered it a temporary business . '

Mercury Research said there is a fact that about 30 years ago microprocessor chips and microcontroller devices (the combination of microprocessor chips and other integrated components) also existed almost everywhere. all aspects. Then in 2000 alone, the world consumed a total of 385 million microprocessor chips and 6.4 billion microcontroller devices.

'It's not so much when we say that microprocessor chips have had a big impact on the lives of people around the globe ,' said Linley Gwennap, an analyst with The Linley Group. ' Before the processor chip, the computer was just a bulky block, full of a room . but when the microprocessor chip was full, it was just as small as an even smaller hand . '

Intel 4004 Microprocessor

The Intel 4004 Microprocessor microprocessor is the 'offspring' of three engineers Ted Hoff, Stan Mazor and Federico Faggin.

In April 1969, Japanese computer maker Busicom ordered Intel - Intel was a well-known memory chip manufacturer - producing a chip for its next generation of computers.

Intel 4004 Microprocessor

Designing a chip according to Busicon's order is a relatively difficult thing for Ted Hoff. That's why Hoff Mazor - a former employee of Fairchild Semicondutor - is involved in the design. Another reason why design is more complicated is how the chip fits into the memory stream produced by Intel itself.

After Hoff and Mazor completed the chip design. In April 1970, Intel drew Faggin of Fairchild Semicondutor to produce the chip. Like Hoff, Faggin was a well-known person in the engineering industry at the time. His greatest achievement is silicon gate technology (silicon gate technology). This technology allows designers to place aluminum transistor gates on a simpler chip.

The design and production of the chip was slower than Busicom's schedule. However, Busicom then decided to extend the contract period with Intel. Under the help of assistants and one day of Faggin's 14 hours of continuous work, the first prototype of the 4004 chip was released in October 1971.

The 4004 chip is considered to be the first microprocessor chip in the world. But in the same period Intel launched a total of 4 chips: 4001 chip - ROM chip for software storage, 4002 chip - RAM chip containing data, 4003 chip - input and output device control chip and 4004 chip .

Thus, although slower than Busicom's progress, Intel himself created "his destiny" - the microprocessor chip. Some leaders in Intel have also begun to expect 4004. The founder of Intel himself, Bob Noyce has also questioned whether it is possible to apply the 4004 widely.

React

The article in ElectronicNews is the first article to write the introduction of the 4004 chip. The information said the 4004 chip is a 4-bit chip that runs at 100KHz (equal to 1/10 of 1MHz) and can actually be Show mathematical calculations. The price of the 4004 chip is only below 100 USD. Intel CEO Gordon Moore at the time declared the 4004 chip the most powerful product in human history.

Meanwhile, some others are not very interested. ' It is a really compelling problem as it will hardly be seen as a product of the future, ' said Nathan Brookwood, an analyst at Digital Equipment at the time.

Many years later, the 4004 chip has yet to receive the support of many people. In 1975, a senior DEC engineer once again announced that the 4004 chip could not be 'the way to the future of Intel'. But later, the view of not being very salty with the 4004 is only the traditional awareness of the mini computer business that lasted from the early years to the late 1970s.

In April 1972, Intel launched an 8-bit 8008 chip. The 8008 chip was a product specifically designed for DataPoint. However, the company could not afford to pay for a manufacturing design contract with Intel. Instead, the company decided to grant Intel permission to use the chip for Intel, which includes integrated control blocks in the chip that are DataPoint products. It is this instruction set that has become the foundation of x86 architecture later.

The breakthrough in chip production came in 1974 with the introduction of the 8080 chip. The chip is equipped with a more complex control block and integrated in a 40-pin package (40-pin chip). These are two really important innovations because it increases the power of the chip.

Why is Intel's chip?

At the same time, other vendors, like RCA, Honeywell and Fairchild, also launched microprocessor chips. But why is Intel chosen to be the start of the world microprocessor chip industry?

The reason is because Intel has made sure its products have to be applied in the easiest way. Not only is selling with Intel's chip a complete system that helps industrial product designers be able to design software.

Meanwhile, Intel rivals miscalculated market demand. National Semiconductor, for example, advertised to sell a 16-bit chip at an exorbitant price point when the 8-bit chip was growing strongly.

Another factor that led Intel's chip to be chosen was IBM's choice of Intel's chip to use for the world's first PC in 1981.

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