Xref: utzoo comp.unix.microport:2588 comp.unix.xenix:4457 comp.sys.ibm.pc:23232 comp.sys.intel:668
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tektronix!percival!data!john
From: john@data.UUCP (John Mantey)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.microport,comp.unix.xenix,comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.intel
Subject: Re: 386/SX Chip
Summary: What is it
Keywords: RE: 386/SX Chip
Message-ID: <366@data.UUCP>
Date: 13 Jan 89 16:44:34 GMT
References: <3114@ihuxv.ATT.COM>
Organization: Microcosm, Beaverton, OR
Lines: 12


	The 386SX is basically a subset of the 386 processor.  The SX does not 
have as large an address space as the 386 (ie 24 bit address bus instead of
a 32 bit address bus).  This gives the 386sx an address capability of 16M of 
physical ram as opposed to the 4G of the 386.  The SX only has a 16 bit data
bus, similar to the 286, instead of a 32 bit address bus.  This just means it 
takes 2 data cycles to get data that a 386 would be able to get in one.
Other than that the two processors are the same.  Software written for the 
sx will run unmodified on the 386, and software for the 386 that never tries
to access physical memory above 16M will work on the SX. 
As to availability and cost, don't ask me,  cause I don't know.
						johnm