The Intel 80186 - The Lost Generation

The Intel 80186 - The Lost Generation

ChipScapesTM Historical Series

Production:

Limited edition size of 50 (production will be limited by availability of chips)

Full Artwork
(Click picture for larger image)

Mixed Media:

11"x14" digital photograph. Archival photo papers and inks are used. Chips and other specimens are mounted with threads and/or acid free adhesives.

Framing:

The artwork is framed in an 11"x14" black wood shadow box frame, with glass, using suspension framing techniques. All framing materials are acid free. A narrative about the artwork that includes the artist’s signature is placed on the back of the artwork.

About this Artwork:

You are bidding on a mixed media artwork celebrating the Intel Pentium. The Intel 80186 is the only generation of the x86 line that did not have a significant use in the PC market. Even those with experience with the early days of the IBM PC will not even recall there was a 186. However, the 186 had a couple of notable features. It was faster, more functional and had new instructions. The new packaging was more interesting: the Pin Grid Array (PGA) and the much lighter Leadless Chip Carrier (LCC).

The 80186 included in this artwork is in an LCC. In this style of packaging the 80186 has no pins, but gold traces radiate from the center. The Intel C80186-3 is surrounded by an enlarged diagram of the chip with the electrical signal designations for each of its leads. The artwork includes a narrative on the microprocessor in the display. Also a general narrative is on the back, which provides some historical context, information about the artwork, and the artist's signature.

General Information:

These artworks are the creation of ChipScapesTM artist Steve Emery. ChipScapesTM are photographs taken of computer chips, boards, and other computer artifacts. They are sort of chip landscapes, or ChipScapesTM for short. Most often a macro-lens or microscope is used with special lightning to achieve these unique artworks.

This artwork is part of the ChipScapesTM Historical Series dedicated to preserving and sharing chips that changed the world. ChipScapesTM are great collectibles or gifts for the technology savvy.

Close-up Study

Narrative Excerpt:

"The degree of integration on the 80186 was a major breakthrough. In addition to the CPU, the 186 also included the functionality of DMA, Clock, Interrupt, Transceiver, and Chip Select chips, all on the same piece of silicon. The result was a two-to-one price advantage over the Motorola 68000..."

Reverse Side

Questions?

For more information about ChipScapesTM, please click on the following links that will take you to my ChipScapes website www.ChipScapes.com: