MOS 6502
MOS 6502 microprocessor technical specifications
Developed by: MOS Technology
Launched: 1975
ALU bits: 8
It was one-sixth cheaper than its competitors, Intel and Motorola, at the time, and faster.
Along with the Z80, they gave rise to the first personal computers.
The 6502 was designed by the same team that had designed the Motorola 6800 after leaving the company.
After leaving, they initially designed the MOS 6501, which was pin-compatible with the 6800. Motorola immediately sued them, and although the case would have been immediately dismissed today, they agreed to stop production of the 6501.
They quickly set to work on the 6502, which wouldn't cause a legal dispute with Motorola, since its different pin arrangement made it unusable on a 6800 motherboard. However, this left MOS Technology with the problem of finding new developers for the system, so in response, engineer Chuck Peddle designed the KIM-1, a single-board computer. To his surprise, the KIM-1 sold in huge numbers to hobbyists and experimenters, as well as to the engineers for whom it was intended.
