HISTORY OF DEV

October 1985

Intel 80386 introduced

Intel introduced the 80386 microprocessorA CPU on a single integrated circuit — the heart of personal computers and countless embedded devices. in October 1985 — the first 32-bit x86Intel's dominant CPU architecture family — the instruction set behind most PCs and servers for decades. CPUCentral processing unit — the primary chip that executes program instructions. with protected mode and virtual memory.

What it was for

I386The 386 enabled true multitasking on PCs — Linux and Windows NT targeted it; OSOperating system — software that manages hardware and provides services to applications./2 and early Windows 3.x exploited protected mode. Software could address 4 GB of RAMRandom access memory — fast volatile memory used while programs run. and run multiple programs safely. Every modern x86Intel's dominant CPU architecture family — the instruction set behind most PCs and servers for decades. desktop and server still carries 386-era architectural DNA in compatibility mode.

Companies

  • Intel

Why it's here

The 80386 was the chip that made 32-bit personal computing and modern OSOperating system — software that manages hardware and provides services to applications. design practical on x86Intel's dominant CPU architecture family — the instruction set behind most PCs and servers for decades..

Why it mattered

It unlocked protected-mode operating systems and set the x86Intel's dominant CPU architecture family — the instruction set behind most PCs and servers for decades. baseline for decades.

What it solved

16-bit x86Intel's dominant CPU architecture family — the instruction set behind most PCs and servers for decades. could not efficiently run multitasking OSes with large address spaces.

Media

  • I386
    ImageI386

    Konstantin Lanzet (with permission), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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