21CTO

Oct 25, 2022 · Fundamentals

Should Linux Drop i486 Support? Linus Torvalds Explains the Rationale

The article discusses Linus Torvalds' push to remove i486 CPU support from the Linux kernel, outlining historical context, technical reasons like the need for the cmpxchg8b instruction, and the diminishing relevance of 32‑bit x86 hardware in modern development.