This was one of several machines built by Intel for verifying the design of hardware and software for the 8080 microprocessor. A socket on the front of the machine can be used to program an EPROM or run an application from one. These things are exceedingly rare; they were only built on request.
From what I have read, the 8008 would have been the first CPU, but was released after the 4004 in March '73. The 8080 was developed in April '74, but wasn't marketed until '76. It was used in the Altair 8800 in '76. This being the first personal computer. The 8086 came next and looks similar to the 8080, but the 8086 had a 16-bit data path rather the 8-bit data path that the 8080 had. Both had a 16-bit address bus. The computer in the video is a 8008 going by the year.
@HondaH100A Actually, the 8085 came after the 8080. It was also an 8-bit processor, but capable of very limited 16-bit instructions. Intel didn't get much use out of it, since the 8086 came out soon after.
Both 8080 and 8085 had simple 16-bit instructions. The difference is that the 8085 was electrically more modern + a few minor fixes. Both had external 16-bit address and 8-bit data buses.
The 8086 / 8088 had a full set of 16-bit instructions and a 20-bit address bus (1MB). The 8086 had a full 16-bit external data bus, while the 8088-variant had an 8-bit external databus (but 16-bit internally).
Wow. Like a seventies time warp. The 8080 was the cpu that created a market for the microprocessor. It was used in the Altair 8800 - the first personal computer.
The 8080 has a 16 bit address bus and a 8 bit data path. The 8086 had a 16 bit data path and ran between 4-10 mhz. The 4004 and the 8008 that were introduced before the 8080, were the very beginings of the Intel cpu world.
calculations, by what I can see uses BASIC btw but then again all computers up to that point either used BASIC/APL/Custom OS, nice computer though, it even predates the MITS Altair 8080.
Nope. Not even close. This was the predecessor to the Intel 8080 microprocessor (which was introduced one year later). This was the 8080 architecture built on discrete logic components as opposed to one single-IC chip.
The IBM XT, or ANY PC had not even been conceived of at this point in time. The first IBM PC was introduced in 1982, 9 years after this computer.
Notice the absence of a keyboard. All computers of this era, including the 8080-based microcomputers, used a front panel as a user interface, as seen in this video. The front panel consisted of single-bit switches and LED indicators.
The first computer to use a keyboard was the Apple I (1976).
A teletype like any device is unuseable without driver or ROM. Most computers in those days didn't have ROM built in, so one had to use the switches to enter a bootloader, have the bootloader (and the necesary hardware) load the basic program, and then the program whould have to have it's own drivers to access the hardware.
no duh, but you need to be able to have it interfaced anyway, and then you would have to program the interface and the software to use it on the computer itself.
If you ever do this video over would you please give some more light to the view. Nice to see it working after 1973.
abpccpba 4 months ago
@OBSysteme
Thanks for the advice, i will defo look that up.
rudeydudey05 1 year ago
What did it actually do?
cloud9backpacker 2 years ago
i love vintage computers. i cant stand new technology. i just cant.
aliensamuraipirate 2 years ago 5
This was one of several machines built by Intel for verifying the design of hardware and software for the 8080 microprocessor. A socket on the front of the machine can be used to program an EPROM or run an application from one. These things are exceedingly rare; they were only built on request.
douro20 2 years ago
I'd love to have one of these, if only a company still made them in kit form.
rudeydudey05 2 years ago
From what I have read, the 8008 would have been the first CPU, but was released after the 4004 in March '73. The 8080 was developed in April '74, but wasn't marketed until '76. It was used in the Altair 8800 in '76. This being the first personal computer. The 8086 came next and looks similar to the 8080, but the 8086 had a 16-bit data path rather the 8-bit data path that the 8080 had. Both had a 16-bit address bus. The computer in the video is a 8008 going by the year.
HondaH100A 3 years ago
@HondaH100A Actually, the 8085 came after the 8080. It was also an 8-bit processor, but capable of very limited 16-bit instructions. Intel didn't get much use out of it, since the 8086 came out soon after.
Jerkwad152 1 year ago
@HondaH100A and Jerkwad152:
Chronology: 4004, 8008, 4040, 8080, 8085, 8086, 8088, etc
Both 8080 and 8085 had simple 16-bit instructions. The difference is that the 8085 was electrically more modern + a few minor fixes. Both had external 16-bit address and 8-bit data buses.
The 8086 / 8088 had a full set of 16-bit instructions and a 20-bit address bus (1MB). The 8086 had a full 16-bit external data bus, while the 8088-variant had an 8-bit external databus (but 16-bit internally).
Svettjodd 1 year ago
Wow. Like a seventies time warp. The 8080 was the cpu that created a market for the microprocessor. It was used in the Altair 8800 - the first personal computer.
The 8080 has a 16 bit address bus and a 8 bit data path. The 8086 had a 16 bit data path and ran between 4-10 mhz. The 4004 and the 8008 that were introduced before the 8080, were the very beginings of the Intel cpu world.
HondaH100A 3 years ago
That really is awesome. I want one.
wisteela 3 years ago
Are you sure this is not an 8008-based (1st Intel 8-bit CPU) machine? Or is it a MOD 80 which incorporated the 8080 CPU?
Nice old computer either way!!
a6emech 3 years ago
what would a computer like this have been used for?
CoolDudeClem 3 years ago
calculations, by what I can see uses BASIC btw but then again all computers up to that point either used BASIC/APL/Custom OS, nice computer though, it even predates the MITS Altair 8080.
Dms12444 3 years ago
Excellent piece of hardware there! Makes me sad to think I turned down buying an ALTAIR 8080 for $100 many years ago.
It would be nice to see a demo program running, even if all it did was chase the LED's around. Send me your Intellec, I'll write the program! ;)
CAREXPERT69 3 years ago
i had an ibm 8088 with 5.25 disk drives
yaiknowscrewme 3 years ago
its a XT..old school
yaiknowscrewme 3 years ago
Nope. Not even close. This was the predecessor to the Intel 8080 microprocessor (which was introduced one year later). This was the 8080 architecture built on discrete logic components as opposed to one single-IC chip.
The IBM XT, or ANY PC had not even been conceived of at this point in time. The first IBM PC was introduced in 1982, 9 years after this computer.
kossmikham 3 years ago
Notice the absence of a keyboard. All computers of this era, including the 8080-based microcomputers, used a front panel as a user interface, as seen in this video. The front panel consisted of single-bit switches and LED indicators.
The first computer to use a keyboard was the Apple I (1976).
The XT came with a keyboard, not front panel.
kossmikham 3 years ago
what about teletypes? If you made the interface board for your microcomputer you could hook a teletype with a keyboard to it.
greenboy256 3 years ago
A teletype like any device is unuseable without driver or ROM. Most computers in those days didn't have ROM built in, so one had to use the switches to enter a bootloader, have the bootloader (and the necesary hardware) load the basic program, and then the program whould have to have it's own drivers to access the hardware.
sundhaug92 3 years ago
no duh, but you need to be able to have it interfaced anyway, and then you would have to program the interface and the software to use it on the computer itself.
greenboy256 3 years ago
correction the IBM Portable PC came out in September 1975 and had a keyboard in addition the Processor Technology
Sol-20 Terminal Computer had a keyboard and came out in June 1976, the Apple 1 came out in July 1976 thus making it the third to have a keyboard.
Dms12444 3 years ago