80386

What does 80386 mean?

The 80386, also known as the i386, is a 32-bit microprocessor designed by Intel in 1985. It was the successor to the 80286 and the first in Intel’s x86 family to feature a 32-bit architecture. The 80386 was a significant advancement in microprocessor technology and laid the foundation for the modern personal computer.

The 80386 featured a number of advanced features that made it a powerful platform for its time. These features included a protected memory architecture, a demand-paged virtual memory system, and a pipelined execution unit. The protected memory architecture allowed the 80386 to run multiple programs concurrently without risking data Corruption. The demand-paged virtual memory system allowed the 80386 to access more memory than was physically available, by swapping pages of memory in and out of main memory as needed. The pipelined execution unit allowed the 80386 to execute multiple instructions simultaneously, significantly improving performance.

Applications

The 80386 was a versatile microprocessor that found applications in a wide variety of devices, including personal computers, workstations, and servers. It was particularly well-suited for applications that required high performance, such as CAD/CAM, financial modeling, and Scientific computation. The 80386 was also a popular choice for embedded systems, such as industrial controllers and medical devices.

The 80386 played a pivotal role in the development of the personal computer. It was the first microprocessor to offer a true 32-bit architecture, which allowed it to run more complex and demanding applications. The 80386 also featured a number of other advanced features that made it a more powerful and versatile platform than its predecessors.

History

The 80386 was developed by Intel in the early 1980s. It was based on the earlier 80286 microprocessor, but featured a number of significant improvements. The 80386 was released in 1985 and quickly became one of the most popular microprocessors on the market.

The 80386 was succeeded by the 80486 in 1989. The 80486 was a more powerful microprocessor that featured a number of additional enhancements, such as an integrated Math Coprocessor and a built-in cache. The 80486 quickly became the standard microprocessor for high-performance personal computers.

The legacy of the 80386 lives on today in the modern x86 architecture. The x86 architecture is still used in the vast majority of personal computers, workstations, and servers. The 80386 was a pioneering microprocessor that helped to shape the development of the modern computer.