<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The first multi-chip 16 - bit microprocessor was the National Semiconductor IMP - 16, introduced in early 1973 . An 8 - bit version of the chipset was introduced in 1974 as the IMP - 8 . </P> <P> Other early multi-chip 16 - bit microprocessors include one that Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) used in the LSI - 11 OEM board set and the packaged PDP 11 / 03 minicomputer--and the Fairchild Semiconductor MicroFlame 9440, both introduced in 1975--76 . In 1975, National introduced the first 16 - bit single - chip microprocessor, the National Semiconductor PACE, which was later followed by an NMOS version, the INS8900 . </P> <P> Another early single - chip 16 - bit microprocessor was TI's TMS 9900, which was also compatible with their TI - 990 line of minicomputers . The 9900 was used in the TI 990 / 4 minicomputer, the Texas Instruments TI - 99 / 4A home computer, and the TM990 line of OEM microcomputer boards . The chip was packaged in a large ceramic 64 - pin DIP package, while most 8 - bit microprocessors such as the Intel 8080 used the more common, smaller, and less expensive plastic 40 - pin DIP . A follow - on chip, the TMS 9980, was designed to compete with the Intel 8080, had the full TI 990 16 - bit instruction set, used a plastic 40 - pin package, moved data 8 bits at a time, but could only address 16 KB . A third chip, the TMS 9995, was a new design . The family later expanded to include the 99105 and 99110 . </P>

In which year were chips used inside the computer for the first time