By Gregory Li Class of 2025

CISC versus RISC: The Rift at the Heart of Modern Computer Design

Editor’s Note: The History Fellowship program offers students the opportunity to conduct college-level independent research on a historical topic of their choice, resulting in a substantial academic paper and oral presentation. Through guided discussions, structured support, and access to both on- and off-campus sources, students learn and apply the practices of professional historians.

On December 1, 2024, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger resigned in a surprise move that left the company scrambling to find a successor. During his tenure, from 2021 to 2024, Gelsinger led the company through one of its toughest downturns; Intel’s market value plummeted from $250 billion when he took over to a measly $100 billion today. Once a tech powerhouse, Intel now pales in comparison to AI giants like Nvidia and Microsoft. Its $100 billion valuation is a mere rounding error next to the trillion-dollar market values of its rivals. How did this happen? The answer to this, and many other broad shifts within the technology industry, lies in a decades-long ideological clash in computer architecture –– something that has foundationally molded the development of modern computer technologies.