LinuxQuestions.org
Share your knowledge at the LQ Wiki.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie
User Name
Password
Linux - Newbie This Linux forum is for members that are new to Linux.
Just starting out and have a question? If it is not in the man pages or the how-to's this is the place!

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 11-14-2004, 08:25 PM   #1
jerkmonkee
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Dec 2003
Posts: 6

Rep: Reputation: 0
What does i386, i586 and x86-64 mean?


when i download a distro it sais so and so for one of these so what do they stad for?
 
Old 11-14-2004, 08:30 PM   #2
deviance99
Member
 
Registered: Jun 2004
Location: Mount Pleasant, MI
Posts: 41

Rep: Reputation: 16
x86 is the CPU architeture family. These go along the lines of i286, i386, i486, i586, etc. where the x is used as a variable for the 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.

i586 is the same as a pentium and amd k1, i686 is the same as pentium II and amd k2, and so on. x86-64 stands for 64-bit processors like Athlon-64's and Opteron that operate off of the x86 family.

Each of the chips has extra transitors and instruction sets, so if you download a distro that was compile for your chip, it should, in theory, run better. Also, You have to meet the architecture number or older to use the distro to.

Last edited by deviance99; 11-14-2004 at 08:54 PM.
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 11-14-2004, 08:45 PM   #3
cs-cam
Senior Member
 
Registered: May 2004
Location: Australia
Distribution: Gentoo
Posts: 3,545

Rep: Reputation: 57
x86-86 is for 64-bit systems such as Opterons.
 
Old 11-14-2004, 09:47 PM   #4
Electro
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 6,042

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
Quote:
Each of the chips has extra transitors and instruction sets, so if you download a distro that was compile for your chip, it should, in theory, run better.
That is not true. The amount of transistors does not depend on architecture model. There are 686 or 80686 processors that have as much transistors as a 486 or 80486. Also adding more transistors does not always mean it will be better although it will be hotter.

I suggest doing a search in this forum on this topic. There are several threads for your question.
 
Old 11-14-2004, 10:15 PM   #5
Zuggy
Member
 
Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Pocatello, Idaho, USA
Distribution: Ubuntu
Posts: 256

Rep: Reputation: 30
Extra Transistors, no. Extra Instructions, Yes. A linux distro compiled for i686 won't run as well on a i586 processor, but it should still run. If you see a distro for x86 it's a generic distro that will run the same on any series as long as it's the same processor speed. And, as mentioned above, x86-64 is for 64-bit processors and won't run on 32-bit processors.
 
Old 11-15-2004, 05:18 PM   #6
deviance99
Member
 
Registered: Jun 2004
Location: Mount Pleasant, MI
Posts: 41

Rep: Reputation: 16
Hmmm... For one, many of the chips DO HAVE more transistors, also, SOME programs will run on older arch's, however, some WILL NOT. In general, you should NOT use a distro that is newer then your chip family.

~everyone's gotta be so exact~
 
Old 08-15-2017, 01:38 AM   #7
John.R.Aye
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: May 2016
Posts: 4

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
Yes more transistors

80386 has 275,000 transistors
80486 has over 1,000,000 transistors
80586 or Pentium has 3.1 million transistors
P55C Pentium has 4.5 million transistors
80686 or P2 has 7.5 million transistors

and I doubt the trend has ended but since this is the only ones Linux is compiled for that is all I will list
my research was done at Wikipedia
the more transistors equal more power more instructions and better processor's
true they may be hotter but it is well worth it
 
Old 08-15-2017, 01:52 AM   #8
John.R.Aye
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: May 2016
Posts: 4

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
I am the dinosaur man

And I don't even have a 80586
the oldest chips I have are Pentium 3's
most of my stuff was donated I have 2 Xeon Quad cores
and 2 Pentium D Dual cores
and several Pentium 4's and a few Pentium 3's
I don't think I even own a 80586 any more
got rid of them a long time ago
to old and took up to much space
 
Old 08-15-2017, 10:00 PM   #9
sundialsvcs
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: SE Tennessee, USA
Distribution: Gentoo, LFS
Posts: 10,610
Blog Entries: 4

Rep: Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905Reputation: 3905
From a Linux kernel perspective, there are two main considerations:
  1. 64-bit or 32-bit architecture: This is the most fundamental architectural concern. If you have a 64-bit CPU, as most people do today, you should always use a 64-bit OS build.
  2. Processor model/features: Is this-or-that instruction available?
Most Linux "distros" are built for a fairly generic x86 or x86-64 chip for simplicity.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
i x86, i386, i486, i586, i686 am confused?!! oldi Linux - Hardware 5 10-04-2006 09:04 AM
Mandriva 32-bit X86, 64-bit x86-64 & i586. La Dima Mandriva 9 10-07-2005 06:12 AM
i386 vs i586 vs x86 etc. virtualme Linux - Newbie 1 02-13-2005 02:04 AM
i586 and i386 ? thedp Linux - Newbie 3 09-23-2004 06:08 PM
RH 7.3 os i386 only or is there a i586 warpig Linux - Distributions 3 09-27-2002 06:12 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:02 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration