Since its introduction of the first microprocessor in 1971, Intel has
grown to be the world's leader in microprocessor production. About 75%
of the computers in the world today are using Intel-architecture
microprocessors. Therefore, Intel is carrying a big load of
computer users on its back and is expected to bring satisfaction to all
of them. However, despite the hard work, there has been a number of bugs
detected in the Intel microprocessors and I am going to look at some of
these bugs.
It is important to note the difference between bugs and
incompatibilities. Robert L. Hummel defines a bug to be "an intentional
and generally undocumented change in processor operation that affects
either a large installed base of software or causes software developers
to test for many different cases" (Hummel).
When discovered, a bug is usualy
fixed with the next revision of the chip. A bug that is never fixed
becomes a documented incompatibility.
koncadu@earlham.edu