History of Microprocessors

Intel 4004

• Developed in 1971, the Intel 4004 is considered the first microprocessor. This first microprocessor cost thousands of dollars. The chip integrated the first use of dynamic RAM storing data, which is still the method that computers use to store data.
  
  

RCA, IBM and Motorola

• Soon after the Intel 4004 appeared, other companies got into the microprocessor industry. In 1974 the RCA 1802 was released; in 1975, the IBM 801 was released, as well as the Motorola 6800. Each showed improvements in function and speed. The Motorola 6800 included the first index register, which allowed it to store 78 instructions.
  
  

1970s & '80s

• Microprocessors continued to improve through the 1970s and 1980s, but prices were still very high, in the hundreds and thousands of dollars. Their functions were very limited compared to microprocessors of today. These devices were used in large-scale computer systems, such as Air Force planes, and NASA space shuttles. In 1979, Motorola introduced the Motorola 68000, which found its way into Apple Macintosh, Atari, and Sun Microsystems computers.
  
  

1990s

• During the '90s, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) created a copy of Intel's leading microprocessor. This lead to lawsuits, which were eventually judged in AMD's favor. This lead to a boom in the making of clone microprocessors. Technology continued to increase and microprocessors continued to shrink in size.
  
  

2000s

• The structure and architecture of microprocessors has remained relatively similar to what it was 30 years ago. As of 2010, Intel and AMD still dominate the microprocessor market and continue to increase speeds and functions. Since the advent of the Internet, computers have become common in households. This has led to more research and rapid advancement.