Signetics 8X300
| General information | |
|---|---|
| Launched | 1976 |
| Designed by | Scientific Micro Systems (SMS) |
| Common manufacturer |
|
| Performance | |
| Max. CPU clock rate | to 8 MHz |
| Data width | 16 instruction, 8 data |
| Address width | 13 instruction, 1 data |
| Physical specifications | |
| Package |
|
| Architecture and classification | |
| Number of instructions | 8 |
| History | |
| Successor | 8X305 |
The 8X300 is a microprocessor produced and marketed by Signetics starting 1976 as a second source for the SMS 300 by Scientific Micro Systems, Inc. Although SMS developed it, Signetics was the sole manufacturer. In 1978 Signetics purchased the rights to the SMS 300 series and renamed it 8X300.
It was designed to be a fast microcontroller and signal processor, and because of this differs considerably from conventional NMOS logic microprocessors of the time. Perhaps the major difference was that it was implemented with bipolar Schottky transistor technology, and could fetch, decode and execute an instruction in only 250 ns. Data could be input from one device, modified, and output to another device during one instruction cycle.
A clone of the 8X300 was manufactured in the Soviet Union under the designation KM1818VM01 (Russian: КМ1818ВМ01).
In 1982, Signetics released an improved and faster version, the 8X305.