Before Intel

The Transistor

The transistor was invented in 1947 by William Shockley. A transistor is a key electronic component to give something the power to do function. Transistors are found in everything from computers to toasters. He eventually created his own business called Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory in Palo Alto, California. When he started to hire, he wanted people that had young minds that could possibly have a lot of potential. He hired many employees, and among them were Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore.

William Shockley

Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory

Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore, Discovery Education

Tragically for Shockley, on September 18th, 1957, his top eight employees, including Moore and Noyce, quit and started a rival company known as Fairchild Semiconductors.

Fairchild Semiconductors

Fairchild was founded by 8 scientists and engineers in 1957, two of them being Gordon Moore and Robert Noyce. Noyce became the leader and general manager. In 1959, they introduced the Planar Process. The Planar Process is basically carving transistors out of silicon, which made transistors cheaper, but still dependable.

(Fairchild Semiconductor Founders, Intel Newsroom

"Noyce was the ideal guy to work for. He gave you a responsibility, and let you go run with it." -Charlie Sporck, Fairchild Semiconductors Production Manager

Noyce Improving Transistor, Discovery Education

"Optimism is an essential ingredient of innovation. How else can the individual welcome change over security, adventure over staying in safe places?" ~Robert Noyce, Co-Founder of Intel

Electronic Newspaper, Mercury News

"The number of transistors incorporated in a chip will approximately double every 24 months." -Gordon Moore, Intel co-founder

Moore's Law

Moore's Law states that the transistors in a microchip will double every 18-24 months. Before Intel was founded, Gordon Moore was asked to write an article for the Electronics Newspaper. They asked him what he predicted for the future, and Moore noticed that the transistors within a circuit double every year. This is what soon evolved to become what people know as Moore's Law.