Open-Source z386 FPGA Core Gets Early Start Memory Access Feature
By
nand2mario
Summary
The article discusses the Intel 80386 processor, a landmark 32-bit x86 CPU that used microcode for all command execution. It highlights the z386, an FPGA-based re-implementation of the 80386 core, and notes that this open-source core was initially missing a key feature of the original chip: early start memory access. The article describes efforts to fully implement this missing feature in the open-source FPGA core.
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Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe Intel 80386 is a rather fascinating slice of computer history.
It marked the first 32 bit X86 processor, and was a staple of early desktop computing.
Like all chips, it has a number of quirks, one of which being the fact that all commands are executed in microcode.
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