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What is a Microprocessor?
Computer's Central Processing Unit (CPU) built on a single Integrated Circuit (IC) is called a
microprocessor.
A digital computer with one microprocessor which acts as a CPU is called microcomputer.
It is a programmable, multipurpose, clock -driven, register-based electronic device that reads binary
instructions from a storage device called memory, accepts binary data as input and processes data according
to those instructions and provides results as output.
The microprocessor contains millions of tiny components like transistors, registers, and diodes that work
together.
Block Diagram of a Microcomputer
A microprocessor consists of an ALU, control unit and register array. Where ALU performs arithmetic and
logical operations on the data received from an input device or memory. Control unit controls the
instructions and flow of data within the computer. And, register array consists of registers identified by
letters like B, C, D, E, H, L, and accumulator.
Evolution of Microprocessors
We can categorize the microprocessor according to the generations or according to the size of the
microprocessor:
First Generation (4 - bit Microprocessors)
The first generation microprocessors were introduced in the year 1971-1972 by Intel Corporation. It was
named Intel 4004 since it was a 4-bit processor.
It was a processor on a single chip. It could perform simple arithmetic and logical operations such as
addition, subtraction, Boolean OR and Boolean AND.
I had a control unit capable of performing control functions like fetching an instruction from storage
memory, decoding it, and then generating control pulses to execute it.
Second Generation (8 - bit Microprocessor)
The second generation microprocessors were introduced in 1973 again by Intel. It was a first 8 - bit
microprocessor which could perform arithmetic and logic operations on 8-bit words. It was Intel 8008, and
another improved version was Intel 8088.
Third Generation (16 - bit Microprocessor)
The third generation microprocessors, introduced in 1978 were represented by Intel's 8086, Zilog Z800 and
80286, which were 16 - bit processors with a performance like minicomputers.
Fourth Generation (32 - bit Microprocessors)
Several different companies introduced the 32-bit microprocessors, but the most popular one is the Intel
80386.
Fifth Generation (64 - bit Microprocessors)
From 1995 to now we are in the fifth generation. After 80856, Intel came out with a new processor namely
Pentium processor followed by Pentium Pro CPU, which allows multiple CPUs in a single system to
achieve multiprocessing.
Other improved 64-bit processors are Celeron, Dual, Quad, Octa Core processors.
Table: Important Intel Microprocessors
Memory
Year of Word
Microprocessor addressing Pins Clock Remarks
Invention Length
Capacity
4004 1971 4-bit 1 KB 16 750 KHz First Microprocessor
8085 1976 8-bit 64 KB 40 3-6 MHz Popular 8-bit Microprocessor
8086 1978 16-bit 1MB 40 5-8 MHz Widely used in PC/XT
16MB real, 4 GB 6-12.5
80286 1982 16-bit 68 Widely used in PC/AT
virtual MHz
132
4GB real, 64TB 20-33
80386 1985 32-bit 14X14 Contains MMU on chip
virtual MHz
PGA
168
4GB real, 64TB 25-100 Contains MMU, cache and FPU, 1.2
80486 1989 32-bit 17X17
virtual MHz million transistors
PGA
4GB real,32-bit Contains 2 ALUs,2 Caches, FPU, 3.3
237
Pentium 1993 32-bit address,64-bit 60-200 Million transistors, 3.3 V, 7.5 million
PGA
data bus transistors
64GB real, 36-bit 387 150-200 It is a data flow processor. It contains
Pentium Pro 1995 32-bit
address bus PGA MHz second level cache also,3.3 V
233-400 All features Pentium pro plus MMX
Pentium II 1997 32-bit - -
MHz technology,3.3 V, 7.5 million transistors
370 600-1.3 Improved version of Pentium II; 70 new
Pentium III 1999 32-bit 64GB
PGA MHz SIMD instructions
423 600-1.3
Pentium 4 2000 32-bit 64GB Improved version of Pentium III
PGA GHz
733
423
Itanium 2001 64-bit 64 address lines MHz-1.3 64-bit EPIC Processor
PGA
GHz
Where,
PGA - Pin Grid Array
MMX - MultiMedia eXtensions
EPIC - Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing
SIMD - Single Instruction Multiple Data
ALU - Arithmetic and Logic Unit
MMU - Memory Management Unit
FPU - Floating Point Unit
Basic Terms used in Microprocessor
Here is a list of some basic terms used in microprocessor:
Instruction Set - The group of commands that the microprocessor can understand is called Instruction set. It
is an interface between hardware and software.
