Weissberger asks the panelists, “What were some of the other memory systems applications besides core memory replacement in computers (for main memory storage) and control memories for CPUs?”

Dave talks about the establishment of Intel’s Memory Systems Division and its “IBM add-on” memory business. He tells us how Intel stacked two 1103 single defect 1K DRAMs together (which then worked correctly) and shipped those to paying customers. Then he reveals the “super secret” deal with IBM, where IBM shipped its main frame computers containing Intel semiconductor memories.

Ted introduces Intel’s Bipolar Schottky static RAMs, e.g. 16 X 4 static RAM for CPU register files; Content Addressable Memory (CAM) which was used in cache memory systems. He describes the breakthrough in silicon fuse bipolar PROMs, which were then used by customers for microcode/firmware storage.

And finally….the importance of Intel’s EPROMs- especially ultra-violet erasable. It wasn’t long before Intel’s customers started shipping those EPROMs in large volume systems. Ted closes the discussion by saying, “It became a far larger business than Intel had ever anticipated.”

[Description by Alan Weissberger]

The above video was captured at the IEEE-CNSV October 1st panel, Intel’s Transition to Success: From Memory to the Microprocessor. For the full description, click here.