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First microprocessor - extensive article
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Author:  BigEd [ Mon May 11, 2015 11:12 am ]
Post subject:  First microprocessor - extensive article

Fans of alternative micros might be interested in this extensive and well-researched article by Ken Shirriff:
The Texas Instruments TMX 1795: the first, forgotten microprocessor
(Of course, in discussions about priority you do have to define your terms carefully.)

Image

Starting from Datapoint's 2200 who got both TI and Intel to make a one-chip version of their TTL CPU, then gave away the rights. But also mentioning Four-Phase Systems with their AL1, effectively predating Intel's offerings and TI's patent claims, but not rated as a true microprocessor by Ken. Also mentioning Viatron's System 21 product idea, a spectacular startup crash-and-burn from 1968, coining the term microprocessor but not containing a one-chip CPU. Likewise Holt's CADC processor is a multi-chip effort.

HN discussion at
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9520210

Some extra materials in Ken's album at
https://plus.google.com/photos/10633856 ... 6392223281

I'm very much looking forward to the next instalment: implementation and circuitry details of the TMX 1795.
(The linked pdf of Boysel's EECS presentation was very good too, although I think I've read it before)

More on the Datapoint 2200 at https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities ... /datapoint

Author:  Tor [ Mon May 11, 2015 3:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First microprocessor - extensive article

A very informative article by Ken Shirriff, thanks for posting. I pushed it to the Wayback Machine to make sure it stays out there..

-Tor

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