Microprocessor

A microprocessor (abbreviated as µP or uP) is a computer electronic component made from miniaturized transistors on a single semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) (aka microchip or just chip). The central processing unit (CPU) is the most well known microprocessor, but many other components in a computer have them, such as the GPU on a video card.

External links

Patents

• {{US patent|3,821,715}} -- Memory System for a Multi-Chip Digital Computer (CPU)

Research

• EMLabs.info -- List of Universities and Research Groups engaged in microcontrollers development.

General

• The ChipList – By Adrian Offerman
• Great Microprocessors of the Past and Present – By John Bayko
• CPU Info Center – At UC Berkeley

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Microprocessor history – Hosted by IBM
• A Simple Course on Microprocessors – By Kenneth Richardson
• Microprocessor instruction set cards – By Jonathan Bowen
• Tom's Hardware Guide
• AnandTech
• The Overclocker's Club
• CPU-Collection
• Freedom CPU
• Laptop Processors
• HowStuffWorks "How Microprocessors Work"

Historical documents

• TMS1802NC calculator chip press release – Texas Instruments, 17 September 1971
• 1973: TI Receives first patent on Single-Chip Microprocessor
• TI Awarded Basic Microcomputer Patent – TI, 17 February 1978 ("microcomputer" to be understood as a single-chip computer; a simple µC)
• Important discoveries in microprocessors during 2004 – Hosted by IBM

Processor company sites

• Advanced Micro Devices
• Intel Semiconductor
• IBM Microelectronics
• AMCC
• Freescale (formerly of Motorola)
• ARM
• MIPS Technologies
• TI Semiconductors