retrocomputing

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The MP944 was the ‘real’ world’s first microprocessor, but it was top secret for nearly 30 years — F-14 Tomcat's chip lived in the shadow of the Intel 4004, but was eight times faster (www.tomshardware.com)

submitted 15 hours ago by cm0002@libretechni.ca to c/retrocomputing@lemmy.sdf.org

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For a long time, what is now considered to be a prime candidate for the title of the ‘world’s first microprocessor’ was a very well-kept secret for nearly 30 years. The MP944 is the inauspicious name of the chip we want to highlight today. It was developed to be the brains behind the U.S. Navy’s F-14 Tomcat’s Central Air Data Computer (CADC). Thus, it isn’t surprising that the MP944 was a cut above the Intel 4004, the world’s first commercial microprocessor, which was designed to power a desktop calculator.

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[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 10 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

It's a different time, probably normal civilian chips to hitch onto the massive industry that now exists. Kind of like how I'd guess the F-14 airframe was made of normal metal instead of something new they invented.

The radar and EWAR-related hardware, on the other hand, might not just be off the shelf.

[–] jqubed@lemmy.world 2 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Unless they’re seeing actual benefits for a neural processing unit, I’d guess you’re right about the processors. The ISS runs on 386 processors and those were a surprisingly outdated choice in that era. Even with the advanced flight characteristics of a modern fighter, I’d guess they don’t really need the power modern chips are capable of offering.

But yeah, the radars and other sensors? Certainly not off-the-shelf for flagship aircraft.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 3 points 11 hours ago

I thought NASA was well stocked with 486 CPUs? Quite a cut about the 386! (I know the ISS is not all NASA.) In any case, the wide wires make for less bit flipping. :)