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From: wlnk_cif@troi.cc.rochester.edu (The Willster)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Can I plug a 486SX into my 386DX slot?
Message-ID: <13899@ur-cc.UUCP>
Date: 8 May 91 05:37:44 GMT
References: <1991May7.230124.3873@colorado.edu>
Sender: news@uhura.cc.rochester.edu
Organization: University of Rochester - Rochester, New York
Lines: 27

In <1991May7.230124.3873@colorado.edu> scholes@spot.Colorado.EDU (Genuine Bud Man) writes:


>  Forgive me if this is a tremendously stupid question, but...

>  I have an old Micronics 386DX-20 motherboard.  Since the
>introduction of the 486SX, I can't help but ask if it is possible
>to pull my 386 and plug in the SX.  My understanding of the 486SX is
>that it is a 486DX w/o the FPU stuff in it.  If this is true,
>then it would seem that it is externally functionally equivilent to
>a 386DX.  Is there even a prayer that the pins signals are the
>same?                        Thanx in advance, Marty

To begin with, the 486SX, right now, is just a 486 with the FPU 
stuff disconnected-- it is still on the circuit.  Also, the 486SX
has a different pinout than the 486DX, ie you cannot exchange the
two.  Furthermore, the 486SX is NOT pin compatible with the 386 
anymore than the 386 is pin compatible with the 286.  Why Intel does
this is a matter of packing I guess, but, needless to say, you cannot
just plug and play.  Sorry :-).

-- Brian Willnecker
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