Intel released its first Pentium chip on this day 33 years ago, came packing 3.1 million transistors — fifth-gen x86 chip built on an 800nm process

Intel marked the 33rd anniversary of the release of its first Pentium chip, which featured 3.1 million transistors and was a fifth-gen x86 chip manufactured on an 800nm process. The Pentium was Intel's initial superscalar design, allowing for the execution of multiple instructions per cycle, enhancing performance. Despite modest clock speeds at launch, the Pentium 60 and Pentium 66 were significant advancements over previous architectures. The Pentium faced challenges, including the infamous FDIV bug, leading to a costly recall and tarnishing Intel's reputation. Subsequent refinements in the Pentium line, like the P54C, showcased Intel's commitment to innovation and improvement in CPU technology.