Answer to Question #308002 in Computer Networks for Merry

Question

Give a brief overview of the evolution of the Intel X86 architecture from its introduction in 1978 up to these day.

Answer 1

X86 is a family of complex instruction set computer instruction set architectures initially developed by Intel based on the Intel 8086 microprocessor and its 8088 variant. The 8086 was introduced in 1978 as a fully 16-bit extension of Intel's 8-bit8080 microprocessor, with memory segmentation as a solution for addressing more memory than can be covered by a plain 16-bit address. The term "x86" came into being because the names of several successors to Intel's 8086 processor end in "86".