Intel has created microprocessors families that are customizable to suit the systems used for different purposes. The speed, performance, and price of a microprocessor differ from one processor family to another. The following table shows the various Intel microprocessors created between 1971 and 2000.

1971 4004

1972 8008

1974 4040 / 8080

1979 8088

1982 80286

1985 80386 series

1989 80486 series

1993 Pentium family

1997 Pentium II family

1998 Celeron / Xeon family

1999 Pentium III family

2000 Pentium IV family

Intel released the 4004 Microprocessor in the year 1971, which was used in Busicom calculators.The 8008 Microprocessor was created in the year 1972. These microprocessors were used in bottling machines and systems that needed little processing. Intel released the 4040 and 8080 microprocessor in the year 1974. The 4040 was the 4004 microprocessor with extra instructions built into it such as logical and comparative capabilities. The 8080 microprocessor was the first microprocessor for the personal computer and was used in the computer called Altair. In 1979, the 8088 microprocessor was created for use in the personal computers manufactured by International Business Machines (IBM). In the year 1982, Intel created the 80286 microprocessor for desktop computers. This Microprocessor was superior to the 8088 Microprocessor in speed because the number of transistors on the microprocessor was increased. Intel also released the 80386 series and the 80486 series of microprocessors that processed data faster than the previous microprocessors. Intel went on to categorize microprocessors into families based on the need and use of the systems. The speed, performance, and price of a microprocessor differ from one microprocessor family to another. The launch of Intel Pentium microprocessor in 1993 enabled system to execute programs that required a lot of processing. Intel then gradually went on to develop the Pentium II, Celeron, Xeon, Pentium III, and Pentium IV for different purposes.

AMD

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) was created in the year 1969. AMD produces microprocessor and silicon-based computer products. They have created the AMD Duron and Athlon microprocessors that are used in computers. These microprocessors are cheaper than Pentium microprocessors. Athlon is a heavy-duty microprocessor available from AMD and is similar to Pentium microprocessors. Duron microprocessors are similar to the Pentium Celeron microprocessors.

Intel Pentium II uses Slot 1 to connect to the motherboard. Intel patented this slot and the competitors could not create a microprocessor to use this slot. AMD with the help of VIA technologies, Inc, created the motherboard that uses Slot A to connect the AMD microprocessor to the motherboard.

AMD distributed its first 64-bit Opteron and Athlon processors in 2003 before Intel's EM64T which was rolled out in 2004. This led to widespread debate over the superiority of the two. AMD introduced the Athlon 64 X2 dual core processor in 2005 and challenged Intel to a "Dual-Core DUeL” for judging whose dual core server processor gives better performance.

Dual Core

Two cores on a single die comprise a dual core CPU. Each of the cores has their own cache, can process independently and provide better performance and speed of execution. To bring into play dual core technology, the process must use multiple threads otherwise the process will be executed with just one of the cores. Dual core processors are well suited for multitasking environments. Intel and AMD provide dual core processors for laptops. Intel Core Duo processor is the latest offering by Intel providing dual core Centrino processor. AMD provides the Athlon 64 X2 processor for the desktop-replacement notebooks.