Forty years ago, Intel released the 8086 processor, introducing the x86 architecture that underlies every PC—Windows, Mac, or Linux—produced today.

The tables describe an assortment of architectural and device features that will help you quickly compare the important processor differences. These processor tablesinclude the standard fare of ...

Once upon a time, though, the state of the art was much less capable; Intel’s first microprocessor, the 4004, was built on a humble 4-bit architecture with limited instructions.

The idea is to craft a streamlined microprocessor that works more efficiently by doing fewer things, and doing them better than conventional processors.