8088 - technical definition

The Intel CPU chip used in first-generation PCs (XT class). It was the brother of the 8086 chip, but used an 8-bit data bus instead of 16 bits. The 8088 was chosen by IBM to encourage migration from the 8-bit CP/M environment to DOS. CP/M was the predominant operating system for business applications in the early 1980s. See 8086 and x86.

Technical Specs
Type: 16-bit multitasking microprocessor; 8-bit bus
Transistors: 25,000
Package: 40-pin CERDIP
Registers: 14 16-bit
Addressing mode (later called Real Mode): Addresses 1MB memory.