Microprocessor history

1. The computer you are using to read this page uses a microprocessor to do its work. The microprocessor is the heart of any normal computer, whether it is a desktop machine, a server or a laptop. The microprocessor you are using might be a Pentium, a K6, PowerPC, a Sparc or any of the many other brands and types of microprocessors, but they all do approximately the same thing in approximately the same way.

2. A microprocessor – also known as a CPU or central processing unit – is a complete computation engine that is fabricated on a single chip. The first microprocessor was the Intel 4004, introduced in 1971. The 4004 was not very powerful – all it could do was add and subtract, and it could only do that 4 bits at a time. But it was amazing that everything was on one chip. Prior to the 4004, engineers built computers either from collections of chip or from discrete components (transistors wired one at a time). The 4004 powered one of the first portable electronic calculators.

3. The first microprocessor to make it into a home computer was the Intel 8080, a complete 8-bit computer on one chip, introduced in 1974. The first microprocessor to make a real splash in the market was the Intel 8088, introduced in 1979 and incorporated into the IBM PC (which first appeared around 1982). If you are familiar with the PC market and its history, you know that PC market moved from the 8088 to the 80286 to the 80386 to the 80486 to the Pentium to the Pentium II to the Pentium III to the Pentium 4. All of these microprocessors are made by Intel and all of them are improvements on the basic design of the 8088. The Pentium 4 can execute any piece of code that runs on the original 8088, but it does it about 5,000 times faster!

4. The following table helps you to understand the differences between the different processors that Intel has introduced over the years.

5. From this table you can see that, in general, there is a relationship between clock speed and MIPS. The maximum clock speed is a function of the manufacturing process and delays within the chip. There is also a relationship between the number of transistors and MIPS. For example, the 8088 clocked at 5 MHz but only executed at 0.33 MIPS (about one instruction per 15 clock cycles). Modern processors can often execute at a rate of two instructions per clock cycle. That improvement is directly related to the number of transistors on the chip.

Notes:

MIPS (millions of instructions per second) - миллион инструкций в секунду

V. Say whether the following statements are true or false.

1. A microprocessor is the heart of any normal computer.

2. The microprocessor known as CPU is a complete computation engine that is fabricated on a dozen of chips.

3. The first microprocessor was Intel 4004, introduced in 1973.

4. The 4004 was not very powerful – all it could do was add and subtract.

5. The first microprocessor which made a real splash in the market was the Intel 4004.

6. Modern processors can often execute at a rate of two instructions per clock cycle.

VI. Complete the following sentences choosing the most suitable variant.

1. The microprocessor is the heart of ….

a) any normal computer

b) any computation engine

c) any vacuum tube

2. Central processing unit is a complete computation engine fabricated…

a) on a dozen of chips

b) on a single chip

c) on a square meter

3. The first microprocessor was Intel 4004, introduced in …

a)1971, b)1975, c)1998

4. The 4004 powered one of …

a) the first portable electronic calculators

b) the second portable electronic calculators

c) the third portable electronic calculators

5. All these microprocessors are improvements of the basic design

of the…

a) 8088, b) 80286, c) 80386

6. That improvement is directly related to the number of …

a) IC on the chip

b) transistors on the chip

c) vacuum tubes on the chip

VII.Read the third sentence of the first paragraph of the text and mark pauses. Divide it into sense groups, find out the means of connection between these sense groups and between the words in each group.

VIII. In paragraphs 2 and 3 find English equivalents of the following words and word combinations.

Центральное процессорное устройство, на отдельном кристалле, изготавливать, настоящий бум на рынке, прежде.

IX. Read paragraph 3 and answer the questions.

1. What have you learnt about the first microprocessor Intel 8080? Describe its characteristic features.

2. What microprocessor made a real splash in the market? And why?

X. In paragraph 4 find information about a relationship between the number of transistors and MIPS.

XI. Make an outline of the text.

XII. Speak about microprocessor as the heart of any computer.

Part B

I. Look through the list of words and make your predictions about the content of it.

1) alter – чередовать, изменять

2) barrier – барьер, экран

3) cell – ячейка, элемент

4) console – пульт управления

5) charge – заряд, заряжать

6) drain – ток, потребление тока

7) drive – привод, двигать, приводить в действие

8) electron gun – электронная пушка

9) excite – возбуждать, побуждать

10) flow – поток

11) erase – стирать запись

12) layer – слой, пласт

13) threshold – порог, предел

14) storage – хранение

II. Define the meaning of the “x” words.

1. Charge: chargeable = заряжать: x

2. Alter: alteration = изменять: х

3. Electron: electronics = электрон: х

4. Application: apply = применение: х

5. Erase: eraser = стирать: х

III. Complete the sentences with the given words:

barrier, electron gun, to alter, storage, drains.

1. Flash memory is used for easy and fast information ….

2. Tunneling is used …. the placement of electrons in the floating gate.

3. The charge enters the floating gate and drains ….. to a ground.

4. This charge causes the floating-gate transistor to act like …….

5. These negatively charged electrons act as a ….. between the control gate and the floating gate.

IV. Study the following words and choose:

a) nouns