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Intel 4004 Turns 30

Posted by michael on from the middle-aged dept.

fm6 writes: "Just the thing to remind an aging geek of his mortality: this week marks the 30th anniversary of the Intel 4004, the very first microprocessor. Another historical page here, and a column bemoaning the absence of dancing in the streets here. Trivia -- why 4004? Because it was the fourth component in a 4-bit chipset." You might want to read the interview with Ted Hoff from a few months ago, it's pretty informative about the origins of the 4004.

5 of 214 comments (clear)

  1. The 8080 by Reality+Master+101 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The 4004 was certainly a significant milestone, but I think the 8080 launched in 1974 was truly the "Model T" of the computer industry. That was the chip that was general enough to really run everything. It was the basis for all the microcomputers and the CP/M operating system.

    In fact, I believe Zilog Z80s (an 8080 clone with some extra instructions -- around 1977?) are still being manufactured as controllers in various products.

    --
    Sometimes it's best to just let stupid people be stupid.
    1. Re:The 8080 by Reality+Master+101 · · Score: 5, Informative

      In fact, here's Zilog's page on the Z80 still in production after 25 years! How many other computer technologies do you know that are still available after 25 years? Pretty remarkable.

      Talk about a company milking something for all its worth! :)

      --
      Sometimes it's best to just let stupid people be stupid.
  2. Interview w/ Masatoshi Shima of Busicom by ch-chuck · · Score: 5, Interesting

    about the 4004 development, right here - they were Intel's customer at the time.

    --
    try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
  3. Intel 4004 *NOT* the first microprocessor! by Eric+Smith · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Actually, the CADC was the first microprocessor. It was used in the F-14A.

    It is lesser known because the designer, Ray Holt, only received clearance to publish information about it in 1998.

  4. I've got three of them :) by MsWillow · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Still utterly unused, in anti-static foam, three Intel 4004s. My roommate decided to start collecting old CPUs, and I managed to find these, free. I still want to make a very simple blinking-lights toy with one of these, and proudly put the "Intel Inside" sticker on the box :)

    Goddess, this brings back memories! Hanging out at the library, using their terminal to call (at 300 baud, that was *fast!*) the HP-2000 system at Harper College, and chatting with friends who had serious money (Jeff actually *built* an Imsai 8080 unit, though he got many of the parts free by schmoozing the sales person).

    30 years, gads. Back then, having even a floppy disk was a wild dream, now we have 100+ gigabyte hard disks. Back then, having one whole K of ram was heaven - last week, I bought 512 meg for $20. Back then, the clock oscillator could be made from a simple L-C circuit, and it ran several hundred kilohertz. Now, it's a PLL-controlled internal oscillator, using an external crystal oscillator, all running at frequencies that make a microwave oven look slow.

    All this, in thirty years. That *really* makes me feel old :)

    --

    Lemon curry?