Mostek

Mostek Corporation was an American semiconductor company that specialized in memory integrated circuits. Founded in 1969, it became a major producer of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips during the 1970s and 1980s. Mostek's DRAM line included early 1Kx8 and 4Kx8 devices and later higher-density parts such as 16K and beyond, with the MK prefix on many devices. The company also produced SRAMs, ROMs and logic products used in computers, arcade systems, and embedded devices. Mostek's products competed with other memory suppliers in the United States and in Asia, and the company played a role in the rapid expansion of DRAM-based memory systems during that era.

In the mid-1980s, Mostek faced increased competition and financial pressures as memory prices fell and Japanese manufacturers expanded. It was acquired by Thomson-CSF (Thomson Semiconductors) in the mid-to-late 1980s, and the Mostek brand was gradually discontinued as the business was integrated into Thomson's broader semiconductor operations. Some assets and product lines continued under the Thomson umbrella for a time, but the Mostek name largely disappeared by the 1990s.

Mostek's legacy lies in its early contribution to DRAM commercialization and the standardization of certain memory architectures and processes that helped enable the broader use of memory chips in personal computers and embedded applications. Its existence reflects the intense competition and rapid technological change that characterized the dynamic memory market of the era.