Last modified: Sat Jun 20 16:32:03 UTC+0200 2026 © A. Tarpai

Intel 8086 Essential

The 8086 (1978) and 8088 (1979) are closely related third generation microprocessors in a low cost 40-pin DIP package. The only difference:

• 8086 uses 16-bits data bus
• 8088 uses 8-bits for the external data bus (used in the IBM-PC 1981)

Intel refers to it as iAPX 86 and iAPX 88. Further below just say 8086. The maximum addressable physical memory is 1 MB (20 address lines). Addr/Data pins are multiplexed.