4004: Intel Celebrates 50th Anniversary of World’s First Commercially Available Microprocessor

[Tsing]

Image: Intel



Intel has shared an editorial celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 4004 microprocessor. This CPU is a genuine treasure among computing circles, as it represents the first commercially produced microprocessor that paved the way to the countless devices and technologies used by the modern world. The Intel 4004 debuted in 1971 with a maximum clock rate of 740 to 750 kHz and a data width of 4 bits.



Intel on the 4004’s early history:



[…] it all started with a calculator. In 1969, Japanese manufacturer Nippon Calculating Machine Corp. approached Intel to design a set of integrated circuits for its engineering prototype calculator, the Busicom 141-PF. Original plans called for 12 custom chips, but Intel employees Marcian “Ted” Hoff, Stan Mazor and Federico Faggin adapted the design into a set of four chips, including the 4004 central processing unit (CPU), which was...

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[Brian_B]

I realize it's copper, but I like how with the slight bit of tarnish it kinda looks like wood.

 

[DrezKill]

...I like how with the slight bit of tarnish it kinda looks like wood.

Oh snap, it does!