CPU of the Day: New Logo – Old Processor: Intel 486 DX2 66
Intel 486 With new logo – 2007
Intel introduced the 486 in 1989, 24 years ago so it may be a bit surprising to see a 486 with the more modern Intel non-‘dropped e’ logo. Intel began using the current logo in 2006, well after the height of the 486 market. However Intel continued to make several 486 processors clear up through 2007. These went to supply many embedded applications (medical, industrial, etc) that had originally been designed with a 486 and remained in production. These types of devices either did not need a better processor or due to regulatory reasons, could not use one. This is actually a common issue with medical devices, once designed, they are certified by the FDA (in the US, other agencies in the EU, Canada etc). This certification is very specific to that exact hardware. Often you cannot even change the S-spec/revision of the processor. If it was built/certified with an SX911 A80486DX2-66 that’s what it must continue to use. Re-certification is very expensive and time consuming. It may seem overkill but these type of applications are often life sustaining, a failure could mean more then a reboot and lost game of Doom. This is why Intel (and other companies) will choose a few products out of each line to be long-term production, this helps engineers select a product to design into their device, that has a guaranteed production life. Currently Intel’s long term products guarantee a 7-year production.
Original DX2 Late 1994
This particular chip was made in April 2007. Intel announced it would be discontinued by the end of 2007 so this is truly one of the last (Intel) 486s ever made. It is a SX911 &E5V2X version which is an SL Enhance (&E) 5 Volt Mobile (2X) processor. The 2X means that the processor requires 2 external clocks, typically one would be used for when a laptop was plugged in (full speed, 33MHz in this case) and a second, which could be anything lower, for battery operation. Obviously these can be implemented in any application, not just a laptop. Registers contents, interrupts etc are all preserved when the processor switches clock frequency so this is done on the fly, just like today’s processors. The SX911 spec, which first was released in 1994, came in both 1X (desktop) and 2X (mobile) versions. Throughout its 13 years of production it remained on a 150mm (6-inch) wafer process at 0.8u.
February 7th, 2013 at 5:24 am
In a very strange coincidence, I actually have this chip in my VERY SMALL collection of only 6 processors. I have just started collecting them. You seem to have a lot of information based off of the #’s on your CPU. My question is, what do the model #’s mean on my chip?
intel
i486 dx2
c4400142
e5v1x sx807
February 7th, 2013 at 6:23 pm
&E5V1X is an SL Enhanced (&E) 5 Volt Desktop (1X) processor.
Assembled in the USA on week 40 of 1994 (C4400142) SX807 is the specification which has the same CPUID as a SX911 so should be relatively the same.
June 26th, 2013 at 10:52 am
I’ve been hunting on Ebay for some DX2 CPUs and found a source, but have some questions that I hope you can help with.
These are DX2-50 (50MHzs)
2 different models (SX626 and SX641). Can you explain what the different specifications might be?
There is also NO “&5v1x” indication, just the SX specification, is this something I have to worry about?
Thanks.
June 26th, 2013 at 10:58 am
SX626 and SX641 are essentially the same, the SX626 is an older stepping is all. They do not have the &E5V1X markings as they were made before this was a standard (and do not support the SL Enhanced features anyways)
June 26th, 2013 at 11:05 am
I found out they have different CPUIDs, 432 for SX626 & 433 for SX641. Is the CPUID just a manufacturing date code?
Both CPUs do not support SL features. Can you explain what that is?
Thank you so much….
June 26th, 2013 at 11:23 am
Its a mask revision, either for a bug (errata) fix, or more often, a change to improve production yields/speeds.
SL features are for power management (add different power down modes) They are not needed for most uses.
December 5th, 2015 at 5:30 pm
[…] There don’t seem to be any specification updates or errata lists for any Intel 486 CPU anywhere. It’s odd because there are specification updates for 386s (and of course Pentiums) from Intel, and because the embedded 486s continued to be produced for a long long time (standard 486s well into the 2000s). […]
August 18th, 2017 at 7:21 am
Since Intel uses only a single digit for years in their datecodes, how would you tell that 2004 DX2 apart from a 1994 manufactured one?
August 18th, 2017 at 10:54 am
You don’t always,, though usually you can tell by the markings as they slowly have evolved.
Intel did start adding a letter to the FPO that helps in this case L2707A11. A letter there (usually A or B) always indicates later production then no letter.
August 18th, 2017 at 5:31 pm
Yeah on the 2007 chip it is clear from the new logo and perhaps the white markings, but on the supposed 2004 one I don’t see any hints. L4492526 could mean either week 49 of 1994 or 2004. Pretty weak system compared to the usual datecode format on chips, though maybe they didn’t anticipate themselves that these models would be produced for such a long time.
August 18th, 2017 at 5:44 pm
Indeed, that caption should say Late 1994. (-66 versus no dash), so good catch there)
September 27th, 2017 at 3:05 am
I have a intel i486tm dx2tm
A80486DX2-66
L5070313
&E5VIX SX911
INTEL M C ’89’92
C3320404
SX750
INTEL M C 1989
September 29th, 2017 at 7:04 pm
SX750 is a 1993 model (non-SL Enhanced_
SX911 is a 1995
November 27th, 2019 at 3:00 am
I’ve been looking for the A80486DX2-66 processor and came across some stocks with A80486DX2DA66 and A80486DX2SA66.
I wonder if they are direct replacement compatible.
There seem to be no documents explaining the SA and DA meaning.
November 27th, 2019 at 3:35 am
DX2DA66 = Write-Back Enhanced (SX955 is the typical spec)
DX2SA66 = non-Write-Back enhanced (Write Through cache) SX911 is the most common spec on that
Most applications will not care which one, though the Write Back should have some performance gains
March 31st, 2024 at 3:19 am
Jaka jest cena tego procesora?