Fifty years ago this month, Intel introduced the first commercial microprocessor, the 4004. Microprocessors are tiny, general-purpose chips that use integrated circuits made up of transistors to ...

The Microprocessor at 50: How the 4004 Changed The World The first general-purpose processor of the modern age came off the line today in 1971 to power a calculator. It changed the world. By Michael J ...

A chip that led to computing as we know it. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

The processors in today’s computers have grown tremendously in performance, capabilities and complexity over the past decade. Clock speed has skyrocketed, and size has dwindled, even as the number of ...

Explore the 2026 ARM vs x86 battle—comparing processor architecture, CPU performance, and energy efficiency to reveal which chip design leads modern computing innovation.