Microprocessors—The first twelve years

During the first twelve years of their existence, microprocessors have evolved at a dramatic pace in terms of numbers, technology, power, functionality, and applications. This paper begins with a technical explanation of key microprocessor specifications. Four generations of microprocessors are considered in detail, along with case studies of popular chip families. Special-purpose processors, software issues, and performance evaluation techniques are other areas of discussion. Overall industry trends are presented.