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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