Intel 8008: The wild tale of the first 8-Bit CPU
Not technically the first... and not actually designed by Intel.
The crazy world of 8-Bit personal computing truly kicked off in 1972 with the release of the Intel 8008 microprocessor. The impact of which can still be felt today — in fact, some of the designs of modern “x86” processors are built upon the foundation that the 8008 provided.
But did you know…
Another company managed to get a working 8-Bit microprocessor multiple months before Intel?
The Intel 8008 had almost no design similarities to the Intel 4004 (and was not a successor)?
The initial functional design of the Intel 8008… was not actually made by Intel?
It’s all true. The history of the Intel 8008 — the CPU that formed the basis for the 8080, 8086, and the entire x86 processor family — is wild and woolly. To say the least.
So buckle up, buttercup. This is one heck of a ride.
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