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First use of the term 'Microprocessor'
NEW
PRODUCTS
FEATURE PRODUCT
COMPUTER ON A CHIP
Intel has introduced an integrated CPU complete with
a 4-bit parallel adder, sixteen 4-bit registers, an accumula-
tor and a push-down stack on one chip. It's one of a
family of four new ICs which comprise the MCS-4 micro
computer system--the first system to bring the power and
flexibility of a dedicated general-purpose computer at low
cost in as few as two dual in-line packages.
MSC-4 systems provide complete computing and con-
trol functions for test systems, data terminals, billing
machines, measuring systems, numeric control systems
and process control systems.
The heart of any MSC-4 system is a Type 4004 CPU,
which includes a set of 45 instructions. Adding one or
more Type 4001 ROMs for program storage and data
tables gives a fully functioning micro-programmed com-
puter. Add Type 4002 RAMs for read-write memory and
Type 4003 registers to expand the output ports.
Using no circuitry other than ICs from this family of
four, a system with 4096 8-bit bytes of ROM storage and
5120 bits of RAM storage can be created. For rapid
turn-around or only a few systems, Intel's erasable and
re-programmable ROM, Type 1701, may be substituted
for the Type 4001 mask-programmed ROM.
MCS-4 systems interface easily with switches, key-
boards, displays, teletypewriters, printers, readers, A-D
converters and other popular peripherals. For further
information, circle the reader service card 87 or call Intel
at (408) 246-7501.
Circle 87 on Reader Service Card
COMPUTER/JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1972/71
There was also an ad for the 4004 in Electronic News, Nov. 1971.
The age of the affordable computer.
MITS announces the dawning of the Altair 8800
Computer. A lot of brain power at a price that's
bound to create love and understanding. To say
nothing of excitement.
The Altair 8800 uses a parallel, 8-bit processor
(the Intel 8080) with a 16-bit address. It has 78
basic machine instructions with variances over 200
instructions. It can directly address up to 65K bytes
of memory and it is fast. Very fast. The Altair
8800's basic instruction cycle time is 2 microseconds.
Combine this speed and power with Altair's
flexibility (it can directly address 256 input and 256
output devices) and you have a computer that's
competitive with most mini's on the market today.
The basic Altair 8800 Computer includes the
CPU, front panel control board, front panel lights
and switches, power supply (enough to power any
additional cards), and expander board (with room
for 3 extra cards) all enclosed in a handsome, alum-
inum case. Up to 16 cards can be added inside the
main case.
Options now available include 4K dynamic mem-
ory cards, 1K static memory cards, parallel I/O
cards, three serial I/O cards (TTL, R232, and TTY),
octal to binary computer terminal, 32 character
alpha-numeric display terminal, ASCII keyboard,
audio tape interface, 4 channel storage scope (for
testing), and expander cards.
Options under development include a floppy disc
system, CRT terminal, line printer, floating point
processor, vectored interrupt (8 levels), PROM
programmer, direct memory access controller and
much more.
PRICE
Altair 8800 Computer: $439.00* kit
$621.00* assembled
prices and specifications subject to change without notice
For more information or our free Altair Systems
Catalogue phone or write: MITS, 6328 Linn N.E.,
Albuquerque, N.M. 87108, 505/265-7553.
*In quantities of 1 (one). Substantial OEM discounts available.
From Cyberspace History Project CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 17:37:44 -0500 Reply-To: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> Sender: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> From: stan Mazor <smazor@CADABRATECH.COM> Subject: 4004 microcomputer history--intel
Discussion List on the History of Cyberspace
The history of the first (Intel 4004) microcomputer is published in several IEEE journals, but briefly capsuled here, as I recall it.
1. Intel was founded as a memory chip company in 1968 by Noyce/Moore. 2. Hoff was hired from Stanford as Intel manager of Applications Rsrch. 3. Early memory chip acceptance was poor and Intel needed some revenue and decided to take custom chip work to augment revenue. 4. Noyce had 'friend' in Tokyo who need custom chips for calculator. 5. Intel took on contract to build calculator chip set for Busicom, Hoff was assigned to manage the project. 6. Busicom designers (Shima, Tanaka) defined 8 custom chips for desk top calculator (printer, display,keyboard, arithmetic, control, ROM,etc). 9. Intel had 2 chip designers and insufficient design bandwidth to do 8 custom chips; these 'random logic' chips are 'difficult' to design. 10. Sept 69 Mazor joins Hoff (from Fairchild where I was a computer designer, and just finished decimal floating point arithmetic unit). 11.Shima was my officemate and I worked with him on calculator logic design; I had just done similar decimal arithmetic unit at Fairchild. 12.Hoff proposes a computer CPU on a chip with other memory chips holding 'code'. Since microprogramming was popular, we considered it a micro- programmed calculator, and called it a micro-processor. 13.I worked on 4004 architecture with Hoff and helped to write test code to implement arithemtic and control programs to implement desk top calculator project. Busicom objects at first since we cannnot prove we can do a calculator, but by 12/69, Busicom abandons their custom chips and we begin the detailed design of the first microcomputer. 14.Faggin joins Intel from Fairchild (2/70); has responsibility for chip design project ---now behind schedule. He works over- time and designs all 4 chips: (ROM, RAM, CPU and Shift register). Mazor helps with logic checking (simulation); Shima helps in chip layout checking. Design to production takes about 18 months. 15. Chip set is produced, code written, and ROM chip's built. Busicom introduces several calculators using the 'MCS-4' chipset. 16. Hoff/Faggin/Mazor encourage Intel to refund $60k development fee to Busicom and Intel to sell MCS-4 chip set as standard product. 17. November 1971 Intel runs ad for the MCS-4 in Electronic News with: "Announcing a new era ..." a prophecy. Chip set is introduced as an Alternative to designing with random logic chips...using programming. 18. Computer on a chip is not correct...actually CPU on a chip, and this is not patented by Intel as it is an 'obvious' extension. Intel does patent specific features of MCS-4. Idea of 4-bit computer seems silly to real computer users; conventional computers were 16 minicomputers; MCS-4 seems like a toy to them; a joy to those not computer literate. 19. Mazor proposes 8-bit CPU to Victor Poor of Datapoint, with Hoff and Mazor writing the proposal and specfication (see separate history). 20. Please see articles by Hoff, Mazor, and Faggin for more. thx. stan
Posted by David S. Bennahum (davidsol@panix.com) Moderator: Community Memory
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