x86, i386 ,ppc

dark_light · 09-11-2005, 04:34 PM

What does that mean
x86, i386, ppc
I tried to install linux and had to select one out of these.Im using a P4 3.0GHz

Matir · 09-11-2005, 04:51 PM

x86 and i386 usually refer to the same thing. These mean Intel 386 and derivitive processors, which would include the P4, and most AMD processors. PPC is "PowerPC", or the architecture of Macs. x86-64, though you did not ask, are the AMD 64bit processors, and Intel processors that support EM64T.

ctkroeker · 09-11-2005, 04:52 PM

i386 means intel pentium 386 and up. x86 is a amd, ppc is a powerPC (Mac).

edit: you beat me to it....

michaelk · 09-11-2005, 11:07 PM

x86, 80x86 is a generic term for Intel processors beginning with the 8086 CPU.

The i386 aka 80386 is the oldest Intel processor that is capable of running linux. Since Intel processors are designed to be backwards compatable any i386 compiled code will run on all Intel compatable processors. Some distributions like Fedora are only released as i386 code. In this case if you want to take advantage of your CPU instruction set you will need to recompile the kernel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...icroprocessors