Definition
The Intersil 6100 is a 12‑bit microprocessor introduced in 1975 by Intersil Corporation, designed to implement the instruction set architecture of the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) PDP‑8 minicomputer.
Overview
The 6100 was among the earliest microprocessors to provide a full instruction set compatible with a commercially successful minicomputer, enabling PDP‑8 software to run on a single-chip platform. Marketed mainly for educational, hobbyist, and low‑cost embedded applications, the chip was used in development kits (e.g., the Intersil 6100 Computer Development System) and a limited number of commercial products. Its release preceded the more widely known 8‑bit Intel 4004 and 8080 families, illustrating an early diversification of microprocessor architectures beyond the dominant 8‑bit designs.
Etymology/Origin
The name “Intersil 6100” follows Intersil’s internal numbering scheme for its product line; the “61” prefix was used for the company’s 12‑bit microprocessor series, while “00” identifies the specific model. The design was derived from DEC’s PDP‑8 architecture, a 12‑bit minicomputer introduced in 1965. Intersil licensed the necessary architectural details to produce a compatible implementation.
Characteristics
- Architecture: 12‑bit word length, 12‑bit address space (4 K words).
- Instruction Set: Direct implementation of the PDP‑8’s 12‑bit instruction set, including memory reference, operate, and I/O group instructions.
- Transistor Count: Approximately 3 500 MOS transistors (NMOS technology).
- Clock Speed: Typically operated at frequencies up to 500 kHz; exact maximum varies with board design and supply voltage.
- Power Consumption: Approximately 1.5 W under nominal operating conditions.
- Packaging: Offered in a 40‑lead dual in‑line package (DIP).
- Variants: A CMOS version, the Intersil 6200, was later released with lower power consumption and higher integration.
- Peripheral Support: Designed to interface with external RAM, ROM, and I/O devices via a simple bus structure; commonly paired with the Intersil 6101/6102 peripheral chips for serial I/O and programmable timers.
Related Topics
- PDP‑8 – the pioneering 12‑bit minicomputer whose instruction set the 6100 emulated.
- Intersil – the semiconductor company that produced the 6100 and subsequent 12‑bit microprocessors.
- Early Microprocessors – other first‑generation processors such as the Intel 4004, Intel 8080, and Motorola 6800.
- 12‑bit Computing – a historic class of computers that employed 12‑bit word architectures, primarily in scientific and control applications.
- CMOS Successors – the Intersil 6200 series, which refined the original 6100 design using complementary MOS technology.