How Microprocessors Work
The computer you are using to read this page uses a microprocessorto do its work. The microprocessor is the heart of any normal computer, whether it is a Desktop machine, a server or a laptop The
microprocessor you are using might be a Pentium, a K6, a PowerPC,
a Sparc or any of the many other brands and types of microprocessors,
but they all do approximately the same thing in approximately the same
way.
A microprocessor -- also known as a CPU or central processing unit is
a complete computation engine that is fabricated on a single chip. The
first microprocessor was the Intel 4004, introduced in 1971. The 4004
was not very powerful -- all it could do was add and subtract, and it could
only do that 4 bits at a time. But it was amazing that everything was on
one chip. Prior to the 4004, engineers built computers either from
collections of chips or from discrete components (transistors wired one
at a time). The 4004 powered one of the first portable electronic
calculators.
a complete computation engine that is fabricated on a single chip. The
first microprocessor was the Intel 4004, introduced in 1971. The 4004
was not very powerful -- all it could do was add and subtract, and it could
only do that 4 bits at a time. But it was amazing that everything was on
one chip. Prior to the 4004, engineers built computers either from
collections of chips or from discrete components (transistors wired one
at a time). The 4004 powered one of the first portable electronic
calculators.
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| The Intel 8080 was the first microprocessor in a home computer. |
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