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Intel 8088 processor's 45th anniversary marks start of PC era and x86 dominance
Key points
- IBM PC Model 5150 launched 45 years ago with Intel 8088.
- Intel 8088 was chosen over 8086 due to lower cost and 8-bit bus.
- Decision enabled affordable PCs and widespread x86 adoption.
- Numerous companies have produced x86 chips over the decades.
The Dawn of the PC Era
The personal computer age began 45 years ago with the introduction of the IBM PC Model 5150 in August 1981. This pivotal machine was powered by the Intel 8088 microprocessor, a more cost-effective variant of the Intel 8086. This combination of an affordable processor, IBM's adoption, and the allowance for PC clones laid the groundwork for over four decades of x86-based personal computing.
Economics Over Performance
The Intel 8088, introduced in June 1979, was selected for the IBM PC despite the earlier Intel 8086 (June 1978) being technically superior. The 8086 featured a 16-bit internal architecture and a 16-bit external data bus, while the 8088 maintained the 16-bit internal architecture but reduced the external data bus to 8-bit. This design choice made the 8088 slower but significantly cheaper, allowing IBM to use readily available and inexpensive 1980s components for the Model 5150, thereby boosting system affordability.
Software Ecosystem and Widespread Adoption
A crucial factor in the IBM PC Model 5150's success was the existing software ecosystem for the x86 architecture. By 1981, versions of DOS were available for x86, and major third-party software developers, including WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3, and dBase, were already creating applications for the platform. This ready availability of software helped the IBM PC Model 5150 become an immediate success.
Diverse x86 Processor Manufacturers
Over the years, numerous companies have manufactured x86 processors beyond Intel and AMD. Analyst Patrick Moorhead highlighted this diversity, noting contributions from companies such as Cyrix, IBM, NEC, NexGen, Texas Instruments, IDT (Centaur Technology), Rise Technology, SGS-Thomson, and Transmeta. This broad participation underscores the widespread impact and adoption of the x86 architecture.
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Reporting from
The Intel 8088 processor, launched 45 years ago, powered the IBM PC Model 5150, initiating the personal computer era and establishing the x86 architecture's long-term dominance. Its affordability and compatibility with existing software were key factors in its success, despite the existence of the more powerful 8086.