FROM VACUUM TUBES TO THE MICROPROCESSOR By James

FROM VACUUM TUBES TO THE MICROPROCESSOR By James Bates

The Vacuum Tube � � A massive, slow, expensive, and offend undependable system. The Vacuum Tube computers were first made by two Americans named Presper Eckert and John Mauchly replacing the Mechanical switches of the Mark I with Vacuum Tubes.

The Harvard Mark I The Mark I was a simple mechanical switch computer built by Howard Aiken. The Mark I’s name was originally the ASCC (Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator) This computer was built during WWII

The Vacuum Tube Continued. � � � The pros. You now have a faster computer compared to the Mark I. prof that the electronic computer is possible. Cons: the Vacuum Tube system gave off so much heat that it needed gigantic air conditioners but, even with the A/C units vacuum tubes over heated regularly. Fun fact: John Ambrose Fleming invented the Vacuum Tube.

“The Second Generation” � � The Vacuum Tube computer lasted from 1946 – 1958 In 1947 John Bardeen, William Shockley, and Walter Brattain working at AT&T's Bell Labs invented the transistor which later replaced the vacuum tube in 1959.

The Transistor � � � The Transistor was smaller, faster, cheaper, and more reliable then the Vacuum Tube. More over one Transistor replaced the equivalent of forty Vacuum Tubes. And most importantly it gave off less heat then the Vacuum Tubes.

“Lets…Make It Smaller? ” � So Robert Noyce of Fairchild Corporation and Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments, working independently, discovered that by compacting as many transistors onto a single chip greatly increased the power of a computer and also lowered the price to make a computer. And the integrated circuit is born.

The Integrated Circuit. � � About every two years sense the creation of the Integrated Circuit, the number of transistors placed in the same amount of space was doubled increasing the power and decreasing the cost more and also decreasing the size to do amount of work. We now have computers that can preform instructions in billionths of a second.

The modern stage… � Ted Hoff, employed by Intel (Robert Noyce's new company) invented the next step to the modern computer. A single chip the size of a pencil eraser designed for hand held calculators that made it possible for the creation of the PC.

1957 � In 1957 anyone could buy a PC and have it in there own home.

The 8 -Bit Microprocessor � The Intel 8008 – Data point asked both Intel and TI to design large scale integrated circuits for a new intelligent terminal. Both designs were later rejected. Despite the rejection, both Intel and TI completed their projects. TI eventually patented its chip, while in 1972 Intel produced the 8008, the first 8 -bit microprocessor.

The 16 -bit � � In 1974 National Semiconductor introduced PACE, the first 16 -bit microprocessor. Other important developments included the introduction of the Intel 8088 (1979), an 8 -bit with 16 -bit architecture used in the IBM PC

The 32 -bit � 1983 -- National Semiconductor shipped the NS 32032, the first 32 -bit microprocessor able to be bought by the general public.

64 -bit The microprocessor that has been used by computers and game consoles sense the 1990’s. � AMD and Intel are the big microprocessor manufactures in the modern day. � The N 64 has been argued to be the first “computer” to have a 64 -bit microprocessor in it. �

“Now What? ” � � � What will be the next step? Will we always be using the technology form the 1960’s just smaller? What do you think?

Thank You