# Texas Instruments TI-99/4
**Wikidata**: [Q2407633](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2407633)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/texas-instruments-ti-99-4

## Summary
The Texas Instruments TI-99/4 is a home computer model manufactured by Texas Instruments that was in production from 1979 to 1981. It is a 16-bit system powered by the Texas Instruments TMS9900 microprocessor and serves as the predecessor to the TI-99/4A.

## Key Facts
- **Manufacturer:** Texas Instruments (American multinational semiconductor company)
- **CPU:** Texas Instruments TMS9900 (16-bit microprocessor)
- **Production Years:** 1979 – 1981
- **Classification:** Home computer model
- **Successor:** Texas Instruments TI-99/4A
- **Manufacturer Headquarters:** Dallas, United States
- **Identifiers:** Google Knowledge Graph ID /g/120jxd9k; Homecomputer Museum ID Texas_Instruments_TI99_4

## FAQs
### Q: When was the Texas Instruments TI-99/4 released?
A: The TI-99/4 entered economic production in 1979. It remained in production until 1981, when it was succeeded by the TI-99/4A model.

### Q: What kind of processor does the TI-99/4 use?
A: The system uses the Texas Instruments TMS9900 microprocessor. This is a 16-bit CPU designed and manufactured by Texas Instruments.

### Q: Who manufactured the TI-99/4?
A: The computer was manufactured by Texas Instruments, an American semiconductor design and manufacturing company headquartered in Dallas. The company has been in operation since December 1930.

## Why It Matters
The Texas Instruments TI-99/4 is significant as an early entry into the home computer market by a major American semiconductor manufacturer. By incorporating the 16-bit TMS9900 microprocessor, it brought industrial-grade processing technology to a consumer-level machine during the late 1970s. Its production period from 1979 to 1981 marked Texas Instruments' transition into the home computing field, leveraging its established history in electronics and calculator manufacturing. Although its production run was relatively short, it established the foundation for its successor, the TI-99/4A, which became a prominent fixture in the early 1980s home computer era.

## Notable For
- **16-Bit Architecture:** Utilizes the Texas Instruments TMS9900 16-bit microprocessor.
- **Corporate Heritage:** Produced by Texas Instruments, a company with roots dating back to 1930 and a major leader in the semiconductor industry.
- **Product Lineage:** Served as the direct predecessor to the Texas Instruments TI-99/4A home computer.
- **Historical Window:** Represented Texas Instruments' primary home computing effort between 1979 and 1981.

## Body

### Technical Architecture
The Texas Instruments TI-99/4 is classified as a home computer and is built around the **Texas Instruments TMS9900** CPU. This 16-bit microprocessor was a central feature of the hardware, distinguishing it from many contemporary 8-bit systems. The device is recognized in technical databases as a specific computer model and a subclass of the broader home computer category.

### Production History
Economic production of the TI-99/4 began in **1979**. The model had a production lifespan of approximately two years, concluding in **1981**. Following the end of its production cycle, it was followed by the **Texas Instruments TI-99/4A**, which continued the company's presence in the home computing market.

### Manufacturer Background
The TI-99/4 was developed by **Texas Instruments**, an American multinational corporation based in **Dallas**. Founded on December 6, 1930, the company is a major entity in the semiconductor industry and electronics manufacturing. At the time of the TI-99/4's lifecycle, the manufacturer was already a global organization, eventually growing to employ approximately 31,000 people by 2021.

### Documentation and Identification
The entity is cataloged under several international identifiers:
- **Homecomputer Museum ID:** Texas_Instruments_TI99_4
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/120jxd9k
- **Common Aliases:** TI-99/4