In my opinion, the most important CPU that Intel ever produced is the Intel 80386. It was the first 32-bit CPU in the x86 family and triggered a revolution. The 386 was not originally planned by Intel, but it became crucial for the company’s success in the PC market. The 386 offered a flat memory space and the ability to provide virtual memory, making it ideal for the emerging workstation market. It also had an integrated Memory Management Unit (MMU), which was essential for modern operating systems like UNIX. Despite facing competition from other CPUs like the Motorola 68020, the 386 became a game-changer for Intel.
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