The First The First MicroprocessorMicroprocessor

By: Mark Tocchet and João TupinambáBy: Mark Tocchet and João Tupinambá

What is A Microprocessor?

A Microprocessor is the CPU that performs basic operations in a microcomputer, consisting of an integrated circuit contained on a single chip.

Video about

the microprocessor.

How A Microprocessor Works

The way a chip works depends on how many transistors and gates it has. These transistors act as switches. A gate turns the transistor on and off allowing electrical currents to send, receive and process digital data (in binary) as instructions and information.

Designer: Federico Faggin

He was the leader of the design/development project of the first microprocessor.

Faggin did the detailed logic and circuit design, chip layout and program testing development without any previous chip design experience.

He was the original developer of the Silicone Gate Technology.

The Intel 4004

The Intel 4004 was the first microprocessor, made in 1971. Silicone gate technology, which allowed a higher number of transistors and gates to be added, was one of the main reasons it was made. Making it much faster then before.

Construction of The Intel 4004

Many versions of the Intel 4004 processor were produced. The earliest versions were ceramic and used a Zebra pattern of white and gray on the back of the chips. The next generation of the chip was plain white ceramic.

Use of The Intel 4004

The first commercial and most famous use of this microprocessor was in the Busicom calculator 141-PF.

Other uses were mainly for research purposes.

Microprocessor Timeline

• Maximum clock speed was 740 kHz

• Instruction execution time 1 or 2 instruction cycles (10.8 or 21.6 µs), 46300 to 92600 instructions per second

• Separate program and data storage. Contrary to Harvard architecture designs, however, which use separate buses, the 4004, with its need to keep pin count down, used a single multiplexed 4-bit bus for transferring:

– 12-bit addresses– 8-bit instructions– 4-bit data words

• Instruction set contained 46 instructions (of which 41 were 8 bits wide and 5 were 16 bits wide)

• Register set contained 16 registers of 4 bits each

• Internal subroutine stack 3 levels deep.

Microprocessor Timeline

• Maximum clock speed was 740 kHz

• Instruction execution time 1 or 2 instruction cycles (10.8 or 21.6 µs), 46300 to 92600 instructions per second

• Separate program and data storage. Contrary to Harvard architecture designs, however, which use separate buses, the 4004, with its need to keep pin count down, used a single multiplexed 4-bit bus for transferring:

– 12-bit addresses– 8-bit instructions– 4-bit data words

• Instruction set contained 46 instructions (of which 41 were 8 bits wide and 5 were 16 bits wide)

• Register set contained 16 registers of 4 bits each

• Internal subroutine stack 3 levels deep.

The Modern Differenece

The Intel 4004

• 3mm by 4mm chip.

• 10 micron tech.

• 2300 transistors.

• Initially US $200.

• Can address 640 bytes.

• 500 kHz to 740 kHz.

• Typically 60000 instructions/sec.

• 50 8 bit instructions (originally only had 46 instructions).

Intel® Core™ i7-3770T Processor

• 37.5mm x 37.5mm.

• Ball micro technology.

• Over 2,000,000,000 transistors.

• Initially US $294.

• Can address 8 Megabytes

• 9.29 GHz.

• Typically 68,719,476,736 instructions/sec.

• Latest 64 Bit instructions.

Selecting a Microprocessor

Types

There are two primary manufacturers of computer microprocessors. Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). Both companies make both single-core and multi-core processors.

Features

Each processor has a clock speed which is measured in gigahertz (GHz). Also, a processor has a front side bus which connects it with the system's random access memory (RAM.) CPUs also typically have two or three levels of cache.

Considerations

The CPU you install must have the same socket size as the slot on the motherboard. Also, when you install a new processor, you may need to install a heat sink and fan. This is because faster processors produce more heat than slower ones.

Size

Check the speed of the front side bus (FSB) when purchasing your new computer or CPU. A front side bus of 800 MHz or greater is essential for fast processing speeds. The processor's cache is also important. Make sure it has at least 1 MB of last level cache if your computing needs are average. If you're an extreme gamer or if you run intensive graphics programs, get the processor with the largest cache.

Benefits

Getting a processor with a dual, triple or quad core can make a significant difference in the processing power of your computer. It's like having two, three or four separate processors installed on your computer at one time.

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