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Selby Bateman, Features Editoricroprocessors:Leapfrogging AheadThe history of the personal computer is really based on the evolution of the microprocessor, a tinycentral processing unit (CPU) thatcan perform arithmetic and logicaloperations to execute ordered setsof instructions—in other words, torunprograms.A microprocessor is the brainsof a computer, little more than afingernail-sized chip of silicon withan intricate grid of microscopictransistorized circuits. As its nameimplies, a microprocessor processesinformation within the computerby organizing the flow of electricalsignals. The computer uses a binarycode of ones and zeros that matchthe on and off states of electricity.Each on or off position is defined asa binary digit, or bit, of information.Examples of microprocessorsare the 6502-family chips found inthe Apple II series and most Commodore and Atari computers; the8088/8086 chips found in the IBMPC series and compatibles; the Z80chips found in computers whichrun the CP/M operating system;the 68000 chips found in the Macintosh, Atari ST, and Amiga; andthe 80286 chips found in IBM ATsandcompatibles.Each of these families of chipshas, in its own way, contributed tothe continuing development of personal computers. Now, however,new microprocessors have been announced that will give the next generation of computers the speed andpower of today's mainframecomputers.A Burst Of GrowthThe Intel Corporation brought outits successor to the 80286, the powerful 80386, causing a phenomenalamount of publicity within themicrocomputer industry. Next, Motorola announced the successor toits 68020 chip, the 68030. Why allthe interest over announcements inthe continuing battle between Inteland Motorola? To understand thefuror over these chips, and thepromise that they both offer, it'shelpful to first understand howeach new generation of microchipshas meant an exponential growth inpower and speed.In 1972, Intel developed thefirst functioning microprocessor,the 4004, which was widely used ina generation of multifunction handheld calculators. The 4004 was afour-bit microprocessor, which simply means that the chip was capable of handling four bits ofinformation at a time. Shortly afterthat, Intel introduced the first eightbitmicroprocessor, the 8008, followed by the 8080. That chip wasused in the first hobbyist computer,the MITS Altair, which was distributed in a do-it-yourself kit.Soon, other companies wereinvolved in creating 8-bit microprocessors. For example, Zilog introduced the 8-bit Z80 chip whichwas used in a variety of personalcomputers. And MOS Technologybrought forward its 6502 chip, thebasis for many of the most popular8-bit computers. These 8-bit microprocessors function in much thesame way. All of them fetch, execute, and store data 8 bits at a timewithin pathways that are calledbuses. The width of these pathwaysdetermines whether a microprocessor is called a 4-bit, 8-bit, 16-bit, ora mixture of these.When IBM introduced its PCcomputer in 1981, the companyused Intel's 8088 chip (a descendant of the 8008), which is a hybridmicroprocessor. That is, internalbus communications are handled16 bits at a time while external buscommunications are only handled 8bits at a time. An 8/16 microprocessor, like the 8088, can access,or address, up to a megabyte ofmemory (1024K, or 1,048,576bytes). By comparison, 8-bit computers address only 64K (64,536bytes) of memory.When Apple Computer introduced the Macintosh computer in1983, that system was based onMotorola's 68000 microprocessor, a16/32-bit hybrid chip capable ofaddressing up to 16 megabytes ofmemory (16,384K, or 16,777,220bytes) at one time. Obviously, suchexponential growth can mean astaggering improvement in thespeed and power of a computersystem. Today, the Atari ST and theCommodore Amiga also each usethe 68000 chip.Motorola announced in 1984the creation of the next step in the68000 family, the 68020 microprocessor, a true 32-bit supermicrochip that's been called "the mainframe on a chip." The chip has theequivalent of 200,000 transistorscrowded onto its surface. It can address up to four gigabytes of memory (4,194,304K, or 4,294,967,296bytes.) And, importantly, it is upwardly compatible with the earlier68000 chips. So, future Macintosh,Amiga, and ST computers will beable to use the 68020.Not to be outdone, Intel's80286 appeared in the new-generation IBM PC-AT computers in 1985,and this past year the 80386 wascreated. This true 32-bit microprocessor is upwardly compatiblewith the earlier 8088- and 80286-based IBM and compatible computers. To keep the microprocessorrace alive, Motorola has announcedits next-generation candidate, the14 COMPUTE! February 1987
Love at firstwrite.AwardedA Best of 1986". . . Commodoren icrocom pu ter sMagazineNew! Now with Near Letter Quality printing!Commodore 64' and 128owners, meet the personal printerof your dreams.It's the Commodore-compatibleOKIDATA 120. And if s got everythingyou've been looking for in a printer.Like a Near Letter Qualityspeed of 30 characters per second.A Utility mode speed of 120 cps.And high-resolution graphics.The OKIDATA 120 is built forlong-term relationships. With a fullone-year warranty, and a printheadlife of 200 million characters.You'll love the very affordableprice, too.The OKIDATA 120 comes completewith everything you need to startprinting. Including its own interfacecable, paper and self-inking "CleanHands" ribbon cartridge. Simplyplug it in and you're ready to go.Meet the printer of your dreamsat your OKIDATA retailer now. Forthe name of the OKIDATA retailernearest you, call 1-800-OKIDATA.The OKIDATA 120. To you. it's agreat printer. To your Commodore,it's Mr. Write.an OKI AMERICA companyWe put business on paper.OKIDATA is a registered trademark of Oki America, me OKIDATA. Maiquede'posee de Ok. America. Inc. Commodore 64 is a registered trademark or Commodore Electronics LtdCommodore 128 is a trademark of Commodore Electronics Lid
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