Microprocessors

• In 1971 Intel created the first microprocessor. This allowed computers to be much smaller than previous incarnations. The first microprocessor was known as the Intel 4004; later Intel developed the 8080, which became the first commercially viable microprocessor. The Intel 8080 sold for $360, considerably less than the millions of dollars charged for the IBM 360 mainframe. In 1975 the 8080 was used in the MITS Altair computer, which was the first PC.