386: 32-Bit and Cache Memory
07:20 - Monday 4 August 2008 by Bestofmedia Team
Source: Tom's Hardware – Keywords: intel, cpu, history
Source: Tom's Hardware – Keywords: intel, cpu, history
Table of content:
386: 32-Bit and Cache Memory
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Intel’s 80836 was the first x86 with a 32-bit architecture. Several versions of this processor were offered. The two best known are the 386 SX (Single-word eXternal), which had a 16-bit data bus, and the 386 DX (Double-word eXternal) with a 32-bit data bus. Two other versions are worth noting, though: the SL, which was the first x86 to offer management of a cache (external) and the 386EX, used in the space program (the Hubble telescope uses this processor).
| Code name | P3 |
| Date released | 1985 |
| Architecture | 32 bits |
| Data bus | 32 bits |
| Address bus | 32 bits |
| Maximum memory | 4096 MB |
| L1 cache | 0 KB (controller sometimes present) |
| L2 cache | no |
| Clock frequency | 16-33 MHz |
| FSB | same as clock frequency |
| FPU | 80387 |
| SIMD | no |
| Fabrication process | 1,500-1,000 nm |
| Number of transistors | 275,000 |
| Power consumption | 2 W @ 33 MHz |
| Voltage | 5 V |
| Die surface area | 42 mm² @ 1µ |
| Connector | 132 pins |
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Wasn’t one of the key features of the Pentium Pro line of processors the increase in IRQs to 256 rather than the 16 of the previous generations?
In the days of virtual IRQs assigned by windows it's easy to forget the headache of trying to install multiple interface cards without running out of resources.
am I mistaken? or the Maximum memory figures are wrong? 4096MB or is it KB on 386, 486 and Pentium MMX class CPU's. and 64MB on P-II and so on.
Modern Intel CPU: P1-> P3 -> P4M -> C2D -> C2Q
Modern AMD CPU: P1(Intel) -> P3(Intel) -> K8 -> K10
Next gen CPU: Modified P1
The Pentium 1 & 3 are possibly the most widely base processor in modern computing. Even AMD's chips are based on them.
Hmm....

Interesting...AMD chips based on P3... EHEHEHEHHEHEHE
I think you need a...khhmmm...LIFE
cheers
Nice article that made me a little bit misty-eyed and nostalgic (being of the original 8086 generation)
Did a bit of a clear-out of my parts boxes not so long ago and found a couple of PPro's, a 486DX2/66, a 386SX and a 386DX. Threw them out but perhaps should have built a little shrine? ;p
Cheers.
There are some errors in the article, Pentium M Dothan had a 2.26GHz model which is not mentioned there, they had a VCore of 1.356V and a TDP of 27W, not 36W like stated here, also it's die size is 88mm2, not 87mm2, it also came as a socket 478 which was incompatible with the Pentium 4 socket 478 due to it's electrical differences.