Intel's Humble Beginnings: How the 8088 Processor Launched the PC Era

The PC industry as we know it today began 45 years ago in August 1981 with the launch of the IBM PC Model 5150, powered by the Intel 8088 processor.

The 8088 was a cheaper alternative to the Intel 8086, which had a 16-bit internal architecture and a matching 16-bit external data bus. The 8088, introduced a year later, sliced the external data bus width in half to 8-bit, making it slower but also significantly cheaper.

IBM's decision to use the 8088 processor allowed for system affordability, and software written for the 8086 was already available by 1981. This included versions of DOS for x86, as well as key third-party software like WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3, dBase, and other early suites and tools.

Today, Intel looks back on this milestone with pride, noting that the partnership with IBM helped establish x86 as a foundation for decades of innovation. The company continues to build on this legacy in the AI-computing era.