# Intel 8086

> 16-bit central processing unit

**Wikidata**: [Q207539](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207539)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_8086)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/intel-8086

## Summary
The Intel 8086 is a 16-bit central processing unit (CPU) released by Intel in 1978. It was a groundbreaking microprocessor that introduced the x86 architecture, which became the foundation for modern personal computers.

## Key Facts
- Released on June 8, 1978, by Intel Corporation
- 16-bit CPU with 29,000 transistors built using 3 µm lithography process
- Successor to the Intel 8080 and Intel 8085 8-bit microprocessors
- Precursor to the Intel 80186, Intel 80286, and Intel 8088 processors
- Discontinued in 1998 after 20 years of production
- Part of the Intel microprocessor family and classified as an integrated circuit model
- Used in early personal computers running operating systems like CP/M-86, DOS Plus, and Windows 1.0

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Intel 8086?
A: The Intel 8086 is a 16-bit central processing unit released by Intel in 1978. It was the first processor in the x86 family and introduced 16-bit computing to the mass market.

### Q: When was the Intel 8086 released?
A: The Intel 8086 was released on June 8, 1978, by Intel Corporation.

### Q: What operating systems ran on the Intel 8086?
A: The Intel 8086 ran operating systems including CP/M-86, DOS Plus, TurboDOS, MP/M, and Windows 1.0.

## Why It Matters
The Intel 8086 was a revolutionary processor that transformed computing by introducing 16-bit architecture to personal computers. Its x86 instruction set became the industry standard that powers most of today's computers. The 8086 enabled more complex software, larger memory addressing (up to 1 MB), and better performance than its 8-bit predecessors. It was used in landmark systems like the IBM PC and helped establish Intel as the dominant processor manufacturer. The architecture's backward compatibility and expandability meant that software written for the 8086 could run on later x86 processors, creating a vast ecosystem of compatible hardware and software that persists to this day. Without the 8086, the personal computer revolution as we know it might have taken a very different path.

## Notable For
- First 16-bit processor in the x86 family that became the dominant PC architecture
- Introduced segmented memory architecture allowing access to up to 1 MB of memory
- Used in the original IBM PC, establishing the standard for personal computing
- Created the foundation for Intel's dominance in the processor market for decades
- Inspired numerous clones and compatible processors from other manufacturers

## Body
### Technical Specifications
The Intel 8086 featured a 16-bit data bus and 20-bit address bus, allowing it to access up to 1 MB of memory. It operated at clock speeds ranging from 5 MHz to 10 MHz in its various versions. The processor contained 29,000 transistors and was manufactured using Intel's 3 µm process technology.

### Architecture and Design
The 8086 introduced the x86 architecture with its segmented memory model, which divided memory into 64 KB segments. It featured 14 16-bit registers including the accumulator, base, count, and data registers, plus a stack pointer, base pointer, instruction pointer, and flag register. The processor supported both 8-bit and 16-bit operations, making it backward compatible with 8-bit software.

### Market Impact
The 8086 was chosen by IBM for its Personal Computer (IBM PC) launched in 1981, which cemented its place in computing history. This decision led to the creation of the IBM PC compatible industry, where numerous manufacturers produced computers that could run the same software. The processor's success spawned an entire ecosystem of compatible hardware, software, and peripherals.

### Successors and Derivatives
The Intel 8088, released in 1979, was a cost-reduced version of the 8086 with an 8-bit external data bus. The 80186 and 80286 were enhanced versions that added new instructions and capabilities. The 8086's architecture influenced countless other processors, including AMD's compatible designs and Soviet clones like the K1810VM86.

### Legacy
The 8086's x86 architecture remains relevant today, with modern Intel and AMD processors still maintaining backward compatibility with 8086 instructions. The processor helped establish Intel as a technology leader and created the foundation for the personal computer industry that has transformed every aspect of modern life.

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## References

1. [Source](https://newsroom.intel.com/news/intel-i7-8086k-processor/#gs.phptum)
2. [Source](https://www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/quickrefyr.htm#1978)
3. [Source](https://www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/quickreffam.htm#i486)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Quora
6. National Library of Israel