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this post was submitted on 09 May 2025
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Just as the MiSTer has started putting (sorta) 486s back in people's hands, although if the newly required instructions aren't too complicated, I suppose someone could conceivably add them to the core.
I guess one unknown for me is how the capability detection of the kernel works and if it works on instruction detection or if it determines it via CPUID.
A big also is that I've not yet tried to run Linux on mine yet so I'm not even sure it's possible with a modern kernel anyway. I think I remember seeing someone got an old version of redhat or Debian working
I've seen a whole raft of 386 machines on AliExpress recently. I need to investigate what's actually in them .
Edit: it's just 386s Edit 2: 386 soc on board
Ah I believe those are powered by chips originally intended to be used in industrial control use cases.
Loads of old manufacturing machines & software out there that are built around a 386/486, and given intel hasn't exactly been making those models in a good while, some companies stepped up to provide compatible replacements for those situations.
Someone on AliExpress had the idea of using them in a more pc-like product for retro gaming, and voila we have all these modern 386/486 clones
Yeah they seem to be M6117 386 soc. They're a bit pricey to buy on a whim, but I'll keep an eye out, might be fun to tinker with.