Intel wafer. CPU?

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Beatsy
Posts: 2105
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 3:10 am
Location: Malvern, UK

Intel wafer. CPU?

Post by Beatsy »

I've just got hold of a 6-inch Intel wafer from when 1 micron processes were the general state of the art (1986). That's just about the right scale for testing resolution and sharpness in the macro to extreme macro ranges IMO. And quite a "pretty" chip in it's own right. Most of the dies have a small black dot on them and there are clear probe marks on some of the pads around each die. I assume the "dotted" ones failed testing (not very good yield if that's the case).

Anyway, I want to clean the wafer before getting into serious mag (the dots come off with ethanol) but here's my first test shot to try and ID the chip. It was taken at roughly 2x with a DImage 5400 lens (FoV 18mm). I didn't light it too well (just two flat-panel lamps at an angle from each side) so the text is a bit hard to read, but I think the label in the 100% crop shows "BEC19G, Intel*(c)1986". *=illegible.

Anyone know which Intel chip this is? It looks like a processor to me, but is it? Thanks.

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mawyatt
Posts: 2497
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:54 pm
Location: Clearwater, Florida

Post by mawyatt »

Steve,

Agree it's "looks" like a processor and a "pretty" chip for those that appreciate it's beauty :D

However, it must be a very simple one since it has so few I/O pads :roll:

BTW care to tell where you found an old intel wafer?

Best,
Research is like a treasure hunt, you don't know where to look or what you'll find!
~Mike

Beatsy
Posts: 2105
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 3:10 am
Location: Malvern, UK

Post by Beatsy »

mawyatt wrote:Steve,

Agree it's "looks" like a processor and a "pretty" chip for those that appreciate it's beauty :D

However, it must be a very simple one since it has so few I/O pads :roll:

BTW care to tell where you found an old intel wafer?

Best,
Yes, I was beginning to think micro-controller rather than micro-processor too.

Found on Ebay ( https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153045911888 ). Sellers father worked at Intel. The end price shown is wrong as my lower offer was kindly accepted. I'm also splitting the wafer (and cost) with someone else - so it worked out cheap enough in the end. I enjoy cleaving wafers too (sort of satisfying in the same way that popping bubble wrap can be). Just a shame the other guy wants his half in one piece... :)

Beatsy
Posts: 2105
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 3:10 am
Location: Malvern, UK

Post by Beatsy »

Found it. It's an MCS 196 microcontroller - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_MCS-96

Space-hardened versions were made too. The unqualified/not tested for radiation ones cost $1895.00 in quantities of 5,000-10,000 (2002) :shock:
Fully qualified ones "cost a lot more" - ref: http://www.cpushack.com/tag/mcs-96/

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