Ken Shirriff on Nostr: A close-up of the microcode ROM shows the individual bits. Unlike most ROMs, the 8087 ...

A close-up of the microcode ROM shows the individual bits. Unlike most ROMs, the 8087 uses four transistor sizes, letting it store two bits per transistor. This complex, semi-analog approach was necessary to fit all the data into the chip; the 8087 pushed the limits of 1980 technology. 3/n