Computer Components Intel 486 and Pentium microprocessors, 1989 and 1992

Computer Components Intel 486 and Pentium microprocessors, 1989 and 1992. The Intel 486 microprocessor (left) was introduced in 1989 and marked a significant improvement in the processing capacity of computers over that of the previous Intel 386 (introduced in 1985). In addition, the 486 processor was the first to offer a built-in ïmath co-processor. This increased computing speeds because complex mathematical functions could be processed away from the central processor. The Intel Pentium (right) was first introduced in 1993 and was the most complex microprocessor of its time. It allowed computers to incorporate ïreal' data - like speech, sound, handwriting and photographic images - more easily. Its rapid adoption by all sectors of the industry made Pentium a household name. ©SSPL/Science Museum