Intel 4004 processor
- Made:
- 1971 in United States



Intel 4004 processor (open), manufactured by the Intel Corporation, United States, 1971.
The first microprocessor to be sold commercially, the Intel 4004, was initially developed for the Busicom calculator. The design process began in 1969 when the Nippon Calculating Machine Corporation commissioned Intel to design 12 custom chips for its new calculator. Intel’s engineers suggested that 4 chips would be sufficient; one of those chips would eventually become the 4004. Later Intel bought back the rights for the chip for $60,000 so that they could produce and sell the chip independently. It was first publicly advertised in a 1971 edition of Electronic News. Meanwhile, the Nippon Corporation went bankrupt and the Busicom calculator was never released.
On display
Science Museum: Information Age Gallery: Cell
If you are visiting to see this object, please contact us in advance to make sure that it will be on display.
Details
- Category:
- Computing & Data Processing
- Object Number:
- 2000-455
- type:
- intel microprocessor
- credit:
- Intel
Cite this page
Rights
We encourage the use and reuse of our collection data.
Data in the title, made, maker and details fields are released under Creative Commons Zero
Descriptions and all other text content are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence
Download
Download catalogue entry as json
View manifest in IIIF viewer
Add to Animal Crossing Art Generator
Download manifest IIIF
Our records are constantly being enhanced and improved, but please note that we cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information shown on this website.