a quick question

[jpero at sympatico.ca]

> Date:          Fri, 5 Aug 2005 17:40:50 -0700 (PDT)
> From:          "Dwight K. Elvey" <dwight.elvey at amd.com>
> To:            cctalk at classiccmp.org
> Subject:       a quick question
> Reply-to:      "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
>                <cctalk at classiccmp.org>

> Hi
>  When did the SX386 come out??
> Dwight

Dwight,

The suffix goes after the cpu number.  Full number is 80386, there 
are two kinds, 386DX (full 32bits) and crippled version of 386 is 
386SX is narrowed down to 16bits data path to the pins but rest of 
core is true 386.

Reason for 386SX came out was it is crippled in performance for a 
reason not to cut into 386DX price/performance and can be fitted 
easily into 286 chipset design with minimum design and new set of 
BIOS programming.

Came out mid 1989 by the way, appox same time as 486DX, shortly after 
then 486SX as well.

I never liked 386SX except if motherboard had some cache installed 
with good chipsets.  Only time son of 386SX shined was IBM 386SLC and 
486SLC2 and 3.  They had larger internal caches and performed well.  

I don't like 486SX either because of no FPU but good in embedded 
stuff.  Thank god that AMD broke down the price barrier when they 
came out with Am386 and Am486 processors back then.  That when I 
bought 386DX-40 then 486DX-40 couple years afterwards.  My first 
crappy PC in 90 was generic board (sucky C&T chipset anyone? 
Shudders), with 386DX-25 no cache. I learned fast to use good stuff 
at that point.

Cheers, Wizard