1971, Science & Technology: Intel 4004 CPU

In 1971 Intel Corporation released the Intel 4004 central processing unit. It was a 4-bit CPU and the first complete CPU on one chip. The integration was made possible by the use of then-new silicon gate technology allowing a higher number of transistors and a faster speed than was possible before.

The 4004 was the first commercially available computer processor designed and manufactured by chip maker Intel, which had previously made semiconductor memory chips. The chief designers of the chip were Federico Faggin and Ted Hoff of Intel, and Masatoshi Shima of Busicom.

Busicom calculator 141-PF

The 4004 had a maximum clock speed of 740 kHz. The first commercial product to use a 4004 microprocessor was the Busicom calculator 141-PF.

Intel 1971 ad

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