Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!kevinw@su-dsn From: kevinw%su-dsn@sri-unix.UUCP Newsgroups: net.micro Subject: intel 386 Message-ID: <2774@sri-arpa.UUCP> Date: Sat, 2-Jul-83 16:23:00 EDT Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.2774 Posted: Sat Jul 2 16:23:00 1983 Date-Received: Sat, 9-Jul-83 20:06:46 EDT Lines: 23 i beg to differ with the comment on the 386 which just came out from the net -- the 386 is a 32 bit version of their original 4004 series processor, having already passed through the 4040,8008, ubiquitious 8080, 8086/8, iAPX186/8, and iAPX286. It is supposed to be fully (!) upwards compatable with the 286, which is upwards compatable from the 8086 -- this means multiple incompatible operating modes just to ensure upwards compatability. addressing is suppose to be segmented, as per earlier chips, and with 0 segment offsets can directly address something on order of 4 Gigabytes. not bad for an overgrown 4 bit micro-controller. There is also supposed to be a 387 type chip, but details (other than it will probably exist) have not been released yet. Who knows if there will be a 389 as well. I don't think they are comming out with a 289, but i'm not sure. Anyway, it is probably one of the most reasonable of the intel product line (probably run rings around the 432...)... All comparisons of it with the 68K show it blowing it away. But then Motorola could compare the 68K with the 4040 and blow it away too,... Anybody have any info on the 68020? How would this beast compare with the yet undefined and unreleased 386? Is the 68020 even finalized? Cheers. -- Kevin