@duke_cpu

CPU collector, artist and enthusiast. Microscopy of vintage microelectronics

 Frankfurt on the Main, Germany
Joined December 2021
  • Tweets1.8K
  • Following302
  • Followers11.2K
846Media
Proud to show you the high resolution die shot of the #Intel 4004 CPU. Enjoy! (9/n)
CPU 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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Time for some real flashback into the 90s experience with #SGI Silicon Graphics workstations… what’s your favorite?
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Finally reorganised all my microscopes on one working table, decapped a chip… and another #silicondoodle is found!!
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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.
CPU 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 🔬 …
CPU 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.
CPU 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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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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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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I totally enjoyed showing the #silicondoodle art during this event. People reacted so positively and also surprised!
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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CPU Duke retweeted
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_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.
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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!
CPU 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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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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Anyone remembers the Y2K bug? Chip designers even guaranteed being Y2K bug free on silicon!
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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.
CPU Duke@duke_cpuJul 20
How does metallurgical light #microscopy compare to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on the #Intel #4004? I found some SEM footage on der8auer.com, localized the exact part on the CPU and made an overlay with my photographs. Did you expect this result?
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How does metallurgical light #microscopy compare to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on the #Intel #4004? I found some SEM footage on der8auer.com, localized the exact part on the CPU and made an overlay with my photographs. Did you expect this result?
CPU Duke@duke_cpu26 Oct 2025
Proud to show you the high resolution die shot of the #Intel 4004 CPU. Enjoy! (9/n)
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Fantastic doodles and where to find them: the USS Enterprise secret doodle of the iPhone 6S.
CPU Duke@duke_cpuMay 3
Replying to @duke_cpu
All this is real hightech that #StarTrek people can rehearse being woken up in the middle of the night - This is my only explanation for placing the U.S.S. Enterprise as a doodle on the ALS!
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Some more visual celebration… I played 1-2 hours - first two episodes on a modern PC - DOSBOX in 1024x768 resolution, no Glide. Impossible in 1996!
CPU Duke@duke_cpuJun 22
#happyanniversary 30 years ago to this date, 22nd of June 1996, id Software released Quake! Were you part of it? What was your favourite weapon? Remember that Quake the famous “mouse look” enabling 360 degrees viewing!!
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