The Intel 8080 was one of the second 8-bit microprocessors produced by Intel Corporation and released in 1974. It quickly gained widespread adoption among early personal computers and other electronic devices.
The 8080 was an 8-bit microprocessor, capable of processing 8 bits at a time. It boasted around 4,500 transistors and was constructed using Intel’s N-MOS technology. Originally designed to be compatible with the Intel 8008, this earlier 8-bit processor still remains popular today.
The 8080 was a pioneer of microcomputing, boasting several features that made it popular during its early days. It had an intuitive instruction set which made programming it straightforward. Furthermore, its variety of input/output (I/O) instructions enabled it to communicate with external devices such as keyboards, displays and printers.
The 8080 was an early microprocessor found in computers such as the MITS Altair 8800 and IMSAI 8080, along with other devices like cash registers and scientific instruments. This pioneered development led to more powerful microprocessors like the 8085 and 8086 that still remain popular today.
