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CPU Duke

@duke_cpu

CPU collector, artist and enthusiast. Microscopy of vintage microelectronics

 Frankfurt on the Main, Germany
Joined December 2021
  • Tweets1.8K
  • Following302
  • Followers11.2K
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Proud to show you the high resolution die shot of the #Intel 4004 CPU. Enjoy! (9/n)
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CPU Duke (@duke_cpu) profile pictureCPU Duke@duke_cpu23 Oct 2025
It’s the world’s first #CPU! Almost 54 years ago, on November 15th 1971, #Intel launched the first commercial single-chip microprocessor. With the following tweets, let’s jointly explore the greatest milestone in #computing #history after the invention of the #transistor!
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Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
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Happy Halloween!
CPU Duke (@duke_cpu) profile pictureCPU Duke@duke_cpu31 Oct 2023
It’s #Halloween!
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CPU Duke retweeted
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CPU Duke@duke_cpu28 Oct 2023
It’s a #Zombie! This specialised decoder from #Qualcomm has tons of cool #Silicondoodles. As it is #Halloween weekend the Zombie doodle fits perfectly! Enjoy! 🧟‍♀️ 🧟‍♂️ 🎃 👻
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Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
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CPU Duke retweeted
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CPU Duke@duke_cpu10 Oct 2025
#Halloween period started, so it is time to test all my #Voodoo cards… I hope they all work fine…
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SGI Doom!… and Quake…and Quake II… … all at the same time!!! OMG
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CPU Duke (@duke_cpu) profile pictureCPU Duke@duke_cpuOct 25
Time for some real flashback into the 90s experience with #SGI Silicon Graphics workstations… what’s your favorite?
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It’s an elephant! 🐘 Next to the AND gate symbol (thanks X for all the hints), there is an elephant behind bars (the metal layer). Note how the tusk could not touch the metal interconnects due to design rules! GDR #silicondoodles are so sweet! I promise to find more…
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Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
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CPU Duke (@duke_cpu) profile pictureCPU Duke@duke_cpuOct 25
It’s a #PowerPlug! ZMD, the large GDR semiconductor company from the 80s used a power plug to mark some of their chips. The U256 is a 16kBit DRAM and has the marking even on the die!
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Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
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It’s a #PowerPlug! ZMD, the large GDR semiconductor company from the 80s used a power plug to mark some of their chips. The U256 is a 16kBit DRAM and has the marking even on the die!
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
CPU Duke (@duke_cpu) profile pictureCPU Duke@duke_cpuOct 23
Finally reorganised all my microscopes on one working table, decapped a chip… and another #silicondoodle is found!!
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Time for some real flashback into the 90s experience with #SGI Silicon Graphics workstations… what’s your favorite?
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
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Finally reorganised all my microscopes on one working table, decapped a chip… and another #silicondoodle is found!!
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
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This time I demonstrated how a DLP projector works by live microscopy of the DMD module showing the millions of small mirrors.
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Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
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CPU Duke (@duke_cpu) profile pictureCPU Duke@duke_cpuOct 17
The Classic Computing meeting in Celle, Germany, was marvellous. Being the annual meeting of the club VzEkC, each member could exhibit and thus enrich the public convention. I mainly focused on #ChipArt, large #CPU stitches and other work made with my microscopes 🔬 …
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The Classic Computing meeting in Celle, Germany, was marvellous. Being the annual meeting of the club VzEkC, each member could exhibit and thus enrich the public convention. I mainly focused on #ChipArt, large #CPU stitches and other work made with my microscopes 🔬 …
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CPU Duke (@duke_cpu) profile pictureCPU Duke@duke_cpuOct 5
I will exhibit in Celle, Germany. See you there?
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It’s an #Elefant! 🐘 The same DRAM IC contains the already known animal standing for its “good memory”. This was already found on other ZMD U2164 versions.
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Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
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CPU Duke (@duke_cpu) profile pictureCPU Duke@duke_cpuOct 14
It’s a #fox! 🦊 This chip is the GDR version / clone of the western 4164 being a 64 kbit DRAM. It was produced by ZMD in Dresden, Germany. Next to some test pads at the die rim, I found the silhouette of a fox head.
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Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
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It’s a #fox! 🦊 This chip is the GDR version / clone of the western 4164 being a 64 kbit DRAM. It was produced by ZMD in Dresden, Germany. Next to some test pads at the die rim, I found the silhouette of a fox head.
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
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I will exhibit in Celle, Germany. See you there?
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Probably not many have this setup! ADB (Apple Desktop Bus) compatible trackball from Kensington, but I replaced the ball with a full sized 🎱 !!
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What should I do on a sunny day? ☀️ #retrobrighting!! Here the example of a #SiliconGraphics mouse…
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Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
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I totally enjoyed showing the #silicondoodle art during this event. People reacted so positively and also surprised!
CPU Duke (@duke_cpu) profile pictureCPU Duke@duke_cpuAug 30
Meet me at the location #Schärferaum during the #BadHomburg Art Festival #Kunstwerkstadt" 12-13th of September. I will exhibit various chip art pieces & demonstrate #silicondoodle on my microscope. Neue Mauerstrasse 10, Bad Homburg, Free entrance, 11am to 6pm.
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CPU Duke retweeted
CPU Duke (@duke_cpu) profile picture
CPU Duke@duke_cpuAug 30
Meet me at the location #Schärferaum during the #BadHomburg Art Festival #Kunstwerkstadt" 12-13th of September. I will exhibit various chip art pieces & demonstrate #silicondoodle on my microscope. Neue Mauerstrasse 10, Bad Homburg, Free entrance, 11am to 6pm.
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Meet me at the location #Schärferaum during the #BadHomburg Art Festival #Kunstwerkstadt" 12-13th of September. I will exhibit various chip art pieces & demonstrate #silicondoodle on my microscope. Neue Mauerstrasse 10, Bad Homburg, Free entrance, 11am to 6pm.
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More comparison…
CPU Duke (@duke_cpu) profile pictureCPU Duke@duke_cpuJul 22
For me, the most stunning is not the much higher resolution & sharpness of SEM, which should be expected. It is the 3D appeal SEM gives to the surface. Astonishingly, one only observes holes via SEM. These are described by Faggin as contact areas produced via the contact mask.
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
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Polyimide protective layers… this one I could remove with a KOH solution in ultrasonic bath, but I needed to be careful. Too long and the silicon is also attacked!
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CPU Duke (@duke_cpu) profile pictureCPU Duke@duke_cpuAug 1
It’s the Swiss National holiday! 🇨🇭 With Motorola having had its European operations head quarter in Geneva,CH, it was only a question of time to find a Switzerland related #silicondoodle. And here it is!
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Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
Image from CPU Duke (@duke_cpu)
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