History of the Microprocessor

 

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History of the Microprocessor...

Introduction ..

A microprocessor is one of the most central parts of a modern personal computer or, in fact, any advanced computer device. It integrates the functions of a central processing unit , the portion of a computer responsible for carrying out programmed instructions, onto a single integrated circuit that couples the important thinking devices of the machine with the electrical infrastructure needed to support them. Microprocessor design is able to incorporate a tremendous amount of processing power in a very small space. 


Perhaps more than any other component of the modern computer, the microprocessor has a long and storied history, and an almost mythological status thanks to its great importance. Each step of the way to modern micro processing has spurred more triumphs, innovations, and competition. 

Early Inventions .....
Before the development of the microprocessor, there were a variety of early technologies for simulating logic functions in computing devices. Many of these early inventions were spurred by wartime necessity during World War II. These early technologies were extremely expensive, slow, and prone to failure ;€“ and by todaya . standards their capabilities were amazingly primitive. Computing technologies based on vacuum tubes and transistors helped make IBM a giant in the large-scale computing industry, but were not realistic for business or home use due to their prohibitive costs and intensive maintenance schedules. Early integrated circuits appeared in calculators, of all things, in the early 1960s; years before Intel began work on the first recognizable microprocessor.
Great Moments in Microprocessor History: Cross-referenced overview of the history of microprocessor technology from the 1960s to the present.
History of the Microprocessor: Another view of the history of the microprocessor from a more technical perspective, focusing on the different companies and competition involved at various stages of microprocessor design.
Microprocessor Timeline Diagram: Graphical timeline giving a family tree of different microprocessor units and their creators from 1971 to the late 1990s.
Microprocessors Today...
     

Today's microprocessors are immensely powerful, capable of executing complex instructions at a faster rate than ever before. As computers grow ever more sophisticated, engineering science begins to run up against puzzling challenges. The continued forward march of microprocessor technology depends as much on pure computing research as it does on cutting edge developments in other fields of science. The engine of microprocessor development in the 21st century may well be the creation of new forms of miniaturization or new semi conductive alloys that permit ever more transistors to be placed on a microchip. Though it is not known if Moore's Law can stand up against these unprecedented technical challenges, it is indisputable that today's microprocessors are more powerful than anything that could have been imagined at the dawn of the computing age over half a century ago. As increasingly globalized societies demand better computing technology, more great advances are sure to be made.
How Modern Microprocessors Are Made: Illustrated, step-by-step guide to modern microprocessor manufacturing.
The Microprocessor Today: Far-ranging, illustrated article on the current state of microprocessor technology that originally appeared in IEEE Micro, an official journal of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society.
The Future of Microprocessors: Another article original sourced from IEE Micro that discusses trends and potential future developments in the field of micro processing and the challenges and costs associated with new microprocessor technology.
Future of Microprocessors: Huge Performance Gains Now a Reality: Scholarly article focusing on the performance gains possible within the near future of microprocessor technology