---
title: The 8086, the chip behind the PC
date: '2026-09-19'
author: olipix
banner: /media/history/images/timeline_0478_intel8086_2.jpg
summary: The timeline entry on Intel's 16-bit processor is back online.
sample: true
---

In 1978 Intel introduced the 8086. Nobody could know then that its architecture would still be around decades later. The history section has an entry on [the launch of the 8086](/history/intel-introduces-the-8086-microprocessor/), and another on [the 8088](/history/the-8088-first-intel-s-really-successful-cpu/) that IBM chose for its PC.

Browse the [history section](/history/) for the rest of the timeline.