Intel 80486

From Computer History Wiki
Revision as of 12:26, 3 November 2018 by Jnc (talk | contribs) (Move content in from dup page)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search
An 80486 cpu

The Intel 80486 is the successor to the Intel 80386 in the Intel x86 line of microprocessors, the 4th generation in that line. It is basically the same CPU as the 386, but includes an 8K byte cache, and optionally (in the 80486DX model) the functionality of the Intel 80387 numeric co-processor, the floating point unit.

Implementation changes mean about half the instructions execute in one clock cycle, instead of the two used in the 386, speeding it up considerably. Its main memory data bus is 32 bits wide, the same as the 386.`

A 486 promo poster

Later cost cutting variations included the 486SX, which was die compatible with the original 486DX part, except it had its math co-processor disabled. For the 486SX model, the 80487SX numeric co-processor is available. The 487SX part was in fact a 486DX CPU, and when it was installed, it turned off the 486SX, and did all the work.

The 486DX was offered in 25, 33, 50 and 66 MHz versions; a 100 MHz version was demonstrated in 1990. For the 486SX, the speeds were 16, 20, 25 and 33 MHz.

The 486's replacement was the Intel Pentium.

External links