A Brand that Built the Digital World

Intel Corporation is the world’s largest semiconductor company and a pioneer of the microprocessor. Founded in 1968 by Andy Grove, Gordon Moore and Robert Noyce, Intel invented the first microprocessor in 1971. The 4004 chip contained 2300 transistors and revolutionized computing by enabling the development of personal computers and related technologies.
Intel’s success was built on its x86 microprocessor architecture and a strategy known as “Wintel”, which combined Intel chips with Microsoft Windows software. In 1978, Intel launched the 8086 CPU, the first x86 processor. The x86 platform allowed PCs from different manufacturers to run compatible software, fueling rapid market growth. Intel and Microsoft worked closely together to optimize Windows for Intel’s processors. This partnership dominated the PC industry for decades.
In the 1980s, Intel released the 80286, 80386 and 80486 CPUs, delivering major performance improvements with each generation. The 486 processor surpassed 1 million transistors and 50 MHz, enabling more advanced applications on PCs. In 1993, Intel introduced the Pentium brand, the first in a line of chips that reshaped consumer expectations for multimedia and internet capabilities. Pentium processors powered the rise of laptops as mainstream PCs, as well as the adoption of technologies like video streaming, web browsing and digital music.
In the new millennium, Intel launched the Pentium 4, the first desktop CPU to reach 3 GHz and contain over 40 million transistors. In 2006, Intel released the Core 2 Duo, a breakthrough product that combined high performance with energy efficiency. The Core 2 chips were produced on a 65nm process, one-sixth the scale of previous generations. The Core series benefitted greatly from Tick-Tock, Intel’s innovation model where new microarchitectures (Ticks) alternated with die shrinks (Tocks) to yield annual performance improvements.
In 2010, Intel introduced the first Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, built on a 32nm process with up to 741 million transistors. Subsequent Core generations, including Ivy Bridge (22nm) and Haswell (22nm) brought major performance and battery life gains to laptops and mobile devices. Today, Intel’s 10th Generation Comet Lake-H Core i9 mobile CPU can reach up to 5.3 GHz and has up to 10 cores thanks to continued die shrinks and architectural refinements.
Outside of PC processors, Intel also develops networking chips, communications platforms, memory and storage solutions. However, the company was slow to realize the impact of mobile computing on its business. ARM-based designs came to dominate the smartphone and tablet markets where low power draw was most critical. Since 2011, Intel has pushed to catch up with ARM licensees in mobile, investing heavily in more power-efficient x86 designs and manufacturing technologies. Intel now powers some Chrome OS laptops and select Android mobile devices with limited success. Looking ahead, Intel aims to drive further advancements in PC processors while aggressively pursuing new growth areas such as artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and 5G networking.
Over its 50-year history, Intel’s technological innovations have paved the way for new industries, workloads and user experiences that shape how we live and work today. While facing intense competition, Intel remains a driving force of progress that continues building on its legacy as the brand that built the digital world. The next decade will be a pivotal time as Intel aims to maintain dominance in traditional markets while expanding into key opportunities that will define the future of computing. Overall, Intel’s ability to thrive during periods of change may ultimately determine its position in the next 50 years of advancement.