Intel started as NM Electronics in 1968. It was a lean operation founded by Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore. These two men were already famous. They had invented the integrated circuit. Their goal was simple. They wanted to build large-scale integrated circuits.
The early 1970s changed everything. Intel released chips that were more powerful than anything on the market. This shift killed an old technology. Magnetic cores used to hold computer memory. Intel’s chips replaced them. Computers got smaller. They got faster.
The real turning point came in 1978. IBM needed a brain for its new personal computer. They chose Intel’s 8088 microprocessor. This decision mattered. It made Intel the standard for all PC-type machines. The market locked in.
Competitors eventually entered the arena. Other manufacturers figured out how to make chips that worked with Intel. They created compatible alternatives. The competition was real. Yet Intel held its ground. For decades, it powered more than 80% of all personal computers. That is a massive share. It wasn’t just about selling chips. It was about owning the architecture.
