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1970s microprocessor chronology
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1970s[edit]

The 1970s brought the 4-bit and 8-bit microprocessor revolution with smaller, faster, and cheaper integrated circuits

packing all the components necessary for a fully functional system in one to three individual chips.
Year Qt Intel National NEC Rockwell Motorola Toshiba Mostek GI AMI Hitachi Fairchild TI RCA Signetics AMD Zilog
1970 1Q
2Q
3Q
4Q
1971 1Q PPS-25
2Q
3Q μPD707
μPD708
TMX1795
4Q 4004
1972 1Q μPD700
2Q 8008 PPS-4
3Q
4Q
1973 1Q IMP-16 μPD751 6200
2Q TLCS-12
3Q IMP-4 μCOM 4
4Q
1974 1Q 8080 IMP-8 5065 7300 TMS1000
2Q 6800 T3190
3Q 3000 CP1600 HMCS-4
HD35404
F8
4Q 4040
1975 1Q PPS-8 9209
2Q μCOM 80 6502
(MOS)
8000 9400 CDP 1801 2650
3Q μCOM 16 PPS-4/2 S9900P Am2900
4Q Am9080
1976 1Q EA9002
2Q ISP-8
(SC/MP)
μCOM 41 14500B T3400
T3472
PIC1650 HMCS-6800 TMS9900 CDP 1802 8x300 Z80
3Q
4Q
1977 1Q 8085 S2000
2Q
3Q
4Q
1978 1Q 8086 6801
2Q 6809
3Q
4Q
1979 1Q 8088 68000 Z8000
2Q
3Q
4Q

Microprocessor chronology[edit]

  • 1975 MN1610 Panafacom
  • 1975 6100 Intersil
  • 1975 2650 Signetics
  • 1975 PPS-8 Rockwell
  • 1975 F8 Fairchild
  • 1975 CDP 1801 RCA
  • 1975 6502 MOS Technology
  • 1976 CDP 1802 RCA
  • 1976 Z-80 Zilog
  • 1976 TMS9900 Texas Instruments
  • 1976 8x300 Signetics
  • 1977 8085 Intel
  • 1978 6809 Motorola
  • 1978 8086 Intel
  • 1978 6801 Motorola
  • 1979 Z8000 Zilog
  • 1979 8088 Intel
  • 1979 68000 Motorola

1980s[edit]

In the 1980s, 16-bit and 32-bit microprocessors were common among new designs, and CMOS technology overtook NMOS.

Transistor count increased dramatically during the decade.
Year Intel National NEC MIPS RISC Motorola Harris IBM DEC Hitachi Fairchild HP Sun Acorn AMD Zilog
1980 16032
1981 6120 ROMP T-11
1982 80186
80286
RISC-I FOCUS
1983 MIPS RISC-II ARM
1984 32032 V20 68020 am186
am286
1985 80386 R2000 Novix
NC4016
MicroVax
II 78032
F9450 ARM1
1986 V60 SPARC Z80000
1987 V70 68030 CVAX
78034
Gmicro
/ 200
ARM2
1988 80386SX
i960
R3000
1989 80486
i860
VAX
DC520
ARM3


See also[edit]