ViodiTV


The Microprocessor as CPU for Computers – Part 9


Weissberger asks Ted and Dave when Intel first recognized that microprocessors could be used as the CPU for computers, rather than just for embedded controller applications (as a replacement for random logic). Ted refers to a 1970 magazine article predicting that the cost per bit of semiconductor memory would drop to 1 cent per bit. The company initially tried to sell microprocessors into controller applications that didn’t use much MEMORY, because the price was too high. They had actually had underestimated the semiconductor process improvements to follow as predicted by Moore’s Law!

Dave shares his recollection of Andy Grove’s early belief that the volume for microprocessors in computers was too small for Intel to bother with. So the company’s focus was solidly on embedded controller applications. When the first PCs came out in the late 1970s, Intel’s views started to change. House then tells the story that was one of the crowning accomplishments of his career – How Intel convinced IBM to design in their 8088 microprocessor (together with 8 bit peripheral chips) into the first IBM PC. The 8088 – an 8086 “design shrink” done in Israel- had never even been bonded out before. Intel used forward pricing for the part to beat out Zilog and Motorola microprocessors, which had more powerful architectures.

[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.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.