Intel 8080 Rubylith Mask Owner Seeks Restorer for 5,000-Transistor Artifact

A rare piece of computing history is up for restoration. Tom Lynch owns the original engineering copy of the Intel 8080 rubylith mask. He is seeking a specialist to restore the artifact. This matters to hardware historians who track the physical origins of microprocessor design.

Rare engineering copy of the 2 MHz CPU layout needs specialist care

The Intel 8080 is an 8-bit microprocessor from the early microcomputer era. It served as the central processing unit for the Altair 8800. The chip influenced the development of the x86 architecture. Lynch’s mask represents the physical layout used to manufacture these early chips.

Intel 8080 Specifications

• Transistor Count: 5,000
• Clock Speed: 2.0 MHz
• Process Technology: 6 μm silicon gate
• Architecture: 8-bit

The rubylith mask is a handcrafted sheet used in photolithography. It displays 5,000 transistors and interconnect patterns. The original Intel 8080 was manufactured on a 6-micrometer silicon gate process. The CPU operated at a clock speed of 2.0 MHz.

Lynch posted a request online to find the right restorer. He noted that he owns the original engineering copy. The current owner is thought to be related to Internet Hall of Fame inductee Dan Lynch. No pricing or availability details exist for the restoration service.

This artifact provides a tangible link to the 6-micrometer process era. It preserves the exact transistor layout of the 2.0 MHz CPU. Lynch’s search highlights the value of preserving original engineering tools. The restoration would safeguard a key piece of x86 heritage.