''Microprocessor Report'' is a newsletter covering the

microprocessor A microprocessor is a computer processor (computing), processor for which the data processing logic and control is included on a single integrated circuit (IC), or a small number of ICs. The microprocessor contains the arithmetic, logic, a ...

industry. The publication is accessible only to paying subscribers. To avoid bias, it does not take advertisements. The publication provides extensive analysis of new high-performance microprocessor chips. It also covers microprocessor design issues, microprocessor-based systems, memory and system logic chips, embedded processors, GPUs, DSPs, and

intellectual property Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, co ...

(IP) cores.

History and profile

''Microprocessor Report'' was first published in 1987 by Michael Slater (engineer). Original board members included Bruce Koball, George Morrow, Brian Case, John Wakerly, Nick Tredennick, Bernard Peuto, Rich Belgard, Dennis Allison, and J H Wharton all of whom served for many years. Slater left MicroDesign Resources (MDR), at the end of 1999. Slater's company MDR, based in

Sebastopol, California Sebastopol ( ) is a city in Sonoma County, California, with a recorded population of 7,521, per the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. Census. Sebastopol was once primarily a plum- and apple-growing region. Wine grapes are the predominant a ...

, originally published ''Microprocessor Report.'' MDR also hosted an annual conference, the Microprocessor Forum, and related events.

Publication

Originally published monthly in print, in 2000 it began publishing weekly online and monthly in print. Typical articles describe the internal design and feature set of microprocessors from vendors such as

Intel Intel Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and Delaware General Corporation Law, incorporated in Delaware. Intel designs, manufactures, and sells computer compo ...

Broadcom Broadcom Inc. is an American multinational corporation, multinational designer, developer, manufacturer, and global supplier of a wide range of semiconductor and infrastructure software products. Broadcom's product offerings serve the data cen ...

, and

Qualcomm Qualcomm Incorporated () is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Diego, California, and Delaware General Corporation Law, incorporated in Delaware. It creates semiconductors, software and services related to wireless techn ...

. The articles usually compare the leading products and discuss their strengths and weaknesses. The annual "year in review" articles provide a broader look at the processor landscape. The publication gives annual awards to the best microprocessor products. Free summaries of these articles are availabl
online
During the 1990s, ''Microprocessor Report'' was recognized four times as Best Newsletter by the Computer Press Association, which noted its "comprehensive and in-depth coverage."Winners, 14th Annual Computer Press Awards
Computerpress.org. Retrieved on 2014-03-02. Slater wrote an account of the early years for the newsletter's tenth anniversary. Slater also recounted his career in an oral history at the

Computer History Museum The Computer History Museum (CHM) is a computer museum in Mountain View, California. The museum presents stories and artifacts of Silicon Valley and the Information Age, and explores the Digital Revolution, computing revolution and its impact ...

Contributors

In addition to Slater, regular contributors have included Linley Gwennap, Keith Diefendorff, Steven Leibson, Markus Levy, Peter Glaskowsky, Kevin Krewell, Tom Halfhill, Jim McGregor, and Max Baron. The 2018 staff was led by editor-in-chief Gwennap with Bob Wheeler, Mike Demler, and Aakash Jani. Tom Halfhill retired in June 2020.

Acquisition

In 1992, MDR was acquired by

Ziff Davis Ziff Davis, Inc. is an American digital media and internet company. Founded in 1927 by William Bernard Ziff Sr. and Bernard George Davis, the company primarily owns technology- and health-oriented media websites, online shopping-related servi ...

. In 1999, MDR was sold to Cahners Business Information (later

Reed Business Information RELX plc (pronounced "Rel-ex") is a British multinational information and analytics company headquartered in London, England. Its businesses provide scientific, technical and medical information and analytics; legal information and analytics; ...

), where it became part of the analyst group In-Stat. During the 2000s, the staff of the newsletter declined. On 6 May 2010, ''Microprocessor Report'' was acquired by The Linley Group. In October 2021, TechInsights acquired The Linley Group, gaining control of ''Microprocessor Report''. In May of the following year
Joseph Byrne
rejoined the publication's team, having been on staff until 2013. Byrne took over the editor-in-chief role at the end of 2022 and continued in that position until December 2023.

References

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