Inside an Intel i486-DX CPU

The intel i486--DX was initially released sometime in 1989. The 33MHz version, which is what this one is, was later released in 1990. Further improvements would be made, which resulted in this particular version of the silicon chip from 1992.

This CPU had approximately 1,200,000 transistors, and was made using the 0.8 micron process node.

[JorisPauws]

This already looks very complicated and its only 1, 2mil transistors. Its insane how they can fit billions of transistors on something the same size nowadays.

[BubblegumCrash]

That CPU ran my childhood. Photoshop 2.0, 3D studio 2.0, WingCommader, Doom, DukeNukem 3D, Dark Forces etc etc

[Bravestandalone]

That was my first CPU; 486DX-33 back in 1990 I believe! The machine cost $2, 200 with 120mb HD and 4mb memory.

[Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

After a deadly mid-air collision over Cerritos, CA in 1986, the decision was made to equip commercial aircraft with an airborne collision avoidance system with the best technology available at the time. The TCAS system was activated in 1992 and has been protecting fliers ever since, even though its operations are rather primitive compared to the technology. available today. The first TCAS processor units installed in aircraft were based upon two 486 CPUs.

[Flashjacks]

I am privileged to have precisely one entire silicon wafer of this processor.

[phillyphakename]

Fun fact, they stopped making the i386, the predecessor, in September 2007.

The chip came out in 1985.

[ratnadas]

I still get fascinated by how humans even made these beautiful objects, such tiny details and how far we have came from this.

[agentdevil]

This needs more recognition than those foolish podcasts.

[markissboi]

Always good to see inside chips its a city so small you cant see the atom people working 24/7

[roycun]

my first pc runs on that CPU.. still keping the CPU for old days memory.

[christ]

My first new-bought PC from my parents when I was a kid was a 486DX2/66. So, so many memories made with that machine. Lots of games, BBSes, learning the nuts and bolts of what make computers tick at the hardware and software level. Back when computers required knowledge to operate and repair.

[lGuileWilliamsl]

I still have my i486 DX-4 100 MHz CPU. still works

[youuuuuuuuuuutube]

This CPU was a monster and a game changer at the time.

[TheBlaert]

We had 286, 386 and 486's in our computer lab at school. Everyone rushed in to get to the 486's first. Long time ago but we learned so much on those machines

[philippelhaus]

Had this in 25Mhz with 4MB of RAM, loved the machine.

[jordansean]

Over 30 years later I still have to support x86 architecture in all my apps 😅

[DuchalvanWyngaard]

I'm from South Africa, I remember when this CPU was launched in 1992, I camped out at our computer shop for two days in order to be 1st in line to get my hands on it. What leap of technology it was back then.

[tubegor]

That was my first PC, pure nostalgia with 4 MB RAM later retrofitted with a sound card and CD (with a proud 4X:) drive. Operating system with DOS 6.22 and Norton Commander. HDD 160MB and a hundred 3.5" flopies (drilled through to double capacity). My first and last game was Wolfenstein (wolf3d) and can even be played today with Raspberry PI 5 and DOSbox.

[ITT]

Appreciate the focal length changing, that really helps me understand the depth since I never seen once IRL that magnified.

[Xingularity]

Many, Many of these early CPUs have amazing details that can only be seen under a microscope..