Intel 8086

Intel 8086
A rare Intel C8086 processor in purple ceramic DIP package with side-brazed pins
General information
Launched1978
Discontinued1998
Common manufacturer
Performance
Max. CPU clock rate5 MHz to 10 MHz
Data width16 bits
Address width20 bits
Physical specifications
Transistors
  • 29,277
Co-processorIntel 8087, Intel 8089
Package
Socket
Architecture and classification
Technology node3 μm
Instruction setx86-16
Products, models, variants
Variant
History
PredecessorIntel 8085
Successors80186 and 80286 (both of which were introduced in early 1982)
Support status
Unsupported

The 8086 (also called iAPX 86) is a 16-bit microprocessor chip released by Intel on June 8, 1978 after development began in early 1976. It was followed by the Intel 8088 in 1979, which was a slightly modified chip with an external 8-bit data bus (allowing the use of cheaper and fewer supporting ICs).

The 8086 gave rise to the x86 architecture, which eventually became Intel's most successful line of processors. On June 5, 2018, Intel released a limited-edition CPU celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Intel 8086, called the Intel Core i7-8086K.