Re: 2.0.31 legacy 386 compatibility?

Benny Amorsen (amorsen@sscnet.com)
14 Jan 1998 22:33:15 +0100


>>>>> "JMG" == J Maynard Gelinas <jmg@iac.net> writes:

JMG> No. I double checked the FPU type and it is a 387 at the same
JMG> speed as the CPU. However, I seem to remember 287s manufactured
JMG> in 40 pin dip format where the 387 is much larger... I doubt one
JMG> _could_ use a 287 with a 386 motherboard.

Some 386 motherboards have a socket for the 287. The 287 was much
cheaper, and it is still much faster than emulated floating point on
the 386.

Anyway, I hope you have luck finding the bugs in the 386 support in
newer kernels. I guess most people just throw their old 386's out.
However, 386 cores are still popular for embedded use, and many
embedded computers have RAM enough for linux...

(If I had a toaster, I would definitely want linux on it)

Benny