# Intel 8085

> 8-bit microprocessor invented in 1976

**Wikidata**: [Q468451](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q468451)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_8085)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/intel-8085

## Summary
The Intel 8085 is an 8-bit microprocessor manufactured by Intel and first released on March 1, 1976. It serves as the successor to the Intel 8080 and is the direct predecessor to the 16-bit Intel 8086 central processing unit.

## Key Facts
- **Type:** 8-bit microprocessor
- **Manufacturer:** Intel
- **Publication Date:** March 1, 1976
- **Discontinuation Date:** 2000
- **Clock Frequencies:** 3.5 MHz and 6 MHz
- **Fabrication Method:** 3 µm lithography process
- **Preceded by:** Intel 8080
- **Succeeded by:** Intel 8086
- **Supported Operating Systems:** CP/M, MP/M, and Fuzix OS
- **Aliases:** MCS 85, I8085, 80C85, and Intel 80C85

## FAQs
### Q: When was the Intel 8085 first introduced?
A: The Intel 8085 was published on March 1, 1976. It was developed by Intel as an 8-bit microprocessor.

### Q: What processor followed the Intel 8085?
A: The Intel 8085 was succeeded by the Intel 8086, which is a 16-bit central processing unit.

### Q: Which operating systems can run on an Intel 8085?
A: The Intel 8085 supports the CP/M operating system (introduced in 1974), the multi-user MP/M (introduced in 1979), and Fuzix OS (introduced in 2014).

### Q: How long was the Intel 8085 in production?
A: The Intel 8085 had a long lifecycle, beginning with its invention in 1976 and lasting until its official discontinuation in 2000.

## Why It Matters
The Intel 8085 is a foundational component in the history of computing, bridging the gap between early 8-bit processors and the 16-bit era. Released in 1976, it improved upon the architecture of the Intel 8080 and provided a platform for influential operating systems like CP/M and MP/M. Its significance is highlighted by its 24-year production lifespan, which concluded in 2000, and its role as the direct predecessor to the Intel 8086. 

The 8085's design was robust enough to be utilized in various computing systems, such as the 1982 Intel iPDS. Its impact was also felt globally, leading to the creation of international variants and clones, such as the Soviet ИМ1821ВМ85А. By employing a 3 µm lithography process and achieving clock speeds up to 6 MHz, the 8085 represented a standard for 8-bit performance during the formative years of the semiconductor industry.

## Notable For
- **Longevity:** Remained in production for 24 years, from 1976 until 2000.
- **Architectural Link:** Served as the critical evolutionary step between the 8-bit 8080 and the 16-bit 8086.
- **International Clones:** The architecture was replicated in other regions, most notably as the Soviet ИМ1821ВМ85А.
- **OS Compatibility:** One of the primary hardwares for the CP/M operating system ecosystem.

## Body

### Technical Specifications
The Intel 8085 is a product model within the Intel microprocessor family. It is an 8-bit processor manufactured using a 3 µm lithography process. The chip was produced with two primary clock frequency specifications: 3.5 MHz and 6 MHz. It is frequently referred to by several aliases, including the MCS 85 and the 80C85.

### Historical Context and Lifecycle
Intel published the 8085 on March 1, 1976. It was designed to follow the Intel 8080 microprocessor. While it was eventually succeeded by the 16-bit Intel 8086, the 8085 remained a relevant component for decades, only reaching its discontinuation date in 2000.

### Software Ecosystem
The 8085 was designed to run several key operating systems of its era:
- **CP/M:** An operating system with an inception date of 1974.
- **MP/M:** A multi-user version of CP/M that debuted in 1979.
- **Fuzix OS:** A more modern operating system released in 2014 that maintains compatibility with the 8085 architecture.

### Hardware Integration and Variants
The processor was a core component of the Intel iPDS, a computer system released in 1982. Additionally, the 8085 architecture saw use in international markets through clones. The ИМ1821ВМ85А is a known Soviet-produced clone of the Intel 80C85A variant.

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## References

1. [Source](https://www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/quickreffam.htm#i486)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Quora
4. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File