DOS ain't dead

Linux 6.15 drops 80486 support. (Announce)

posted by bocke, 17.05.2025, 22:12

We talked about Linux dropping 80386 support, a few years ago. Now, 80486 got on the chopping board. Still, Linux keeps the support for Pentium and higher 32-bit x86 CPUs.

"More than 36 years after the release of the 486 and 18 years after Intel stopped making them, leaders of the Linux kernel believe the project can improve itself by leaving i486 support behind. Ingo Molnar, quoting Linus Torvalds regarding "zero real reason for anybody to waste one second" on 486 support, submitted a patch series to the 6.15 kernel that updates its minimum support features. Those requirements now include TSC (Time Stamp Counter) and CX8 (i.e., "fixed" CMPXCH8B, its own whole thing), features that the 486 lacks (as do some early non-Pentium 586 processors)."

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/05/linux-to-e...r-1989s-hottest-chip-the-486-with-next-release/

Linux 6.14 will be the last with 80486 support.

Complete thread:

• Linux 6.15 drops 80486 support. - bocke, 17.05.2025, 22:12 (Announce)
  • Linux 6.15 drops 80486 support. - Oso2k, 17.05.2025, 22:25
    • Linux 6.15 drops 80486 support. - bocke, 18.05.2025, 02:56
      • Linux 6.15 drops 80486 support. - ecm, 18.05.2025, 03:29
        • Linux 6.15 drops 80486 support. - bocke, 18.05.2025, 21:19
  • Linux 6.15 drops 80486 support. - RayeR, 19.05.2025, 20:30
    • Linux 6.15 drops 80486 support. - bocke, 20.05.2025, 18:14