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The Intel 80386 is a microprocessor which was used as the central processing unit (CPU) of many personal computers from 1986 until 1994 and later. During its design phase the processor was code-named simply "P3", the third-generation processor in the x86 line, but was and is frequently referred to as the i386. Designed and manufactured by Intel, the i386 processor was taped-out in October of 1985. Intel decided against producing the chip before that date, as the cost of production would have been uneconomical. Full-function chips were first delivered to customers in 1986. Motherboards for 386-based computer systems were highly elaborate and expensive to produce, but were rationalised upon the 386's mainstream adoption. The 386 was the first x86 to have a 32-bit architecture. This is an architecture whose use continued for more than a decade, until the invention of x64, which features a 64-bit architecture. The first personal computer to make use of the 386 was designed and manufactured by Compaq*, and Andy Grove, Intel's CEO at the time, made the decision to single-source the processor, decisions that were ultimately crucial to both the processor's and Intel's success in the market. Because of the high degree of compatibility, the range of processors compatible with the 80386 is often collectively termed the i386 architecture; the instruction set for the architecture is now known as IA-32 or, informally, i386. In May 2006 Intel announced that production of the 386 would cease at the end of September 2007. * Although it had long been obsolete as a personal computer CPU, Intel had continued to manufacture the chip for embedded systems.
Architecture
80386SX Later in the 80386's production run, Intel introduced the 80386SX, which was meant to be a low cost version of the 386 line. The SX series of chips was 32-bit internally, but had a 16-bit external data bus (in much the same way that the 8088 in the original IBM PC was a lower cost version of the 8086) and a 24 bit address bus, so could only address 16MB. The original 80386 was subsequently renamed the 80386DX to avoid confusion. Neither CPU included a math coprocessor (most motherboards included a socket for an 80387), though the naming would cause some head-scratching later when the 80486 came in a DX variant that did include floating-point capability (which was physically present but disabled in early 486SXs). 386SL
Business importance The first PC company to design and manufacture a PC based on the 386 was Compaq, rather than IBM, which had been dominant until that time. IBM was offered use of the processor, but relied instead on earlier processors to which it had manufacturing rights. The success of the Compaq 386 PC played an important role in creating the PC "clone" industry, and to establishing Intel (and Microsoft) as central component suppliers to it. From a business perspective, the i386 was significant because it was the first significant microprocessor to be single-sourced – it was available only from Intel Corp. Prior to this, the difficulty of making chips and the uncertainty of reliable supply required that any mass-market semiconductor be multi-sourced, that is, made by two or more manufacturers, the second and subsequent ones manufacturing under license from the designer. Single-sourcing the i386 allowed Intel greater control over its development and substantially greater profits in later years. However, AMD introduced its compatible Am386 processor in March 1991 after overcoming legal obstacles, thus ending Intel's monopoly on 32-bit 386-compatible processors. Later Cyrix offered Cx486SLC and Cx486DLC processors, pin-compatible with 80386SX and 80386DX respectively. Other uses The hardware of a typical autopilot is a set of five 80386 CPUs, each on its own printed circuit board. The 80386 is an inexpensive, well-tested design that can implement a true virtual computer. New versions are being implemented that are radiation-resistant and hardened for aerospace use, but this aged computer design is intentionally favored because it is inexpensive and its reliability and software behavior are well-characterized. Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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