Improve Technologies Make-it 486 – 286 Upgrade

Cx486SLC/e-33MP Based Improve Technologies Make-It 386 for a 286

Improve Technologies (IT) was a company that existed from 1991-1997.  They were one of the many (to include Cyrix, Evergreen, PNY, Gainbery, etc) that made processors for upgrading 286, 386 and 486 computers.  Processor upgrades are no longer commonplace, becoming nearly non-existent (except for such things as 771 to 775 adapters).  Today computer hardware has become so inexpensive that upgrading more often just consists of purchasing a whole new computer, or at least new motherboard, RAM, and CPU, all at a price of a few hundred dollars.

In the early to mid-90;s however, a computer system cost 2-$3000, so replacing it every few years was not financially viable for many people.  Thus processor upgrades, they were designed to replace a CPU with the next generation CPU (with some limitations) at a price of a few hundred dollars.

In 1976 TranEra was founded in Utah. TransEra is an engineering solutions company, they are built on seeing a technological problem, and engineering a solution, whatever that may be.  They began by making add-on for Tektronix test gear and HP-IB interface equipment.  In 1988 they released HTBasic, a BASIC programming language (based on HP’s Rocky Mountain BASIC) for PC’s.  This is what TransEra became perhaps best known for, as they continue to develop and sell HTBasic.  It was TransEra who developed the Improve Technologies line of upgrades.  They saw a problem, and engineered a solution.

This version included the FPU A Cyrix Cx87SLC-33

In the early 1990’s the current computer was a 486, but many people still ran 286 and 386 based systems.  All of these being x86 processors they were code compatible.  You could run a 486 style processor in a 286 system, albeit with a greatly limited bus speed and width.  IT’s first upgrade was for 68 pin PLCC 286s, up to 16MHz.  Simply remove the existing CPU and insert the IT module.   The 286 used a clock twice its processor speed, so a 16MHz 286 would run the Make-It 486 at 32MHz.

Originally the upgrade was called the Make-It 386 (and thats what is molded into the socket) but later marketing changed its name to Make-It 486.  THe processor itself was originally based on a Cyrix Cx486SLC/e CPU running at 33MHz.  The SLC/e was 386SL compatible, with power saving support, so could even upgrade portable system with ease. The SLC/e provided 1KB of unified cache, as well as a 16 bit hardware multiplier.  If more performance was desired, Improve made a version with an integrated Cx87SLC coprocessor.    Around 1995 IT transitioned the adapter to the TI TX486SLC/E.  The TI is licensed from Cyrix, so is no difference other then it says TI.  It’s likely this was done as Cyrix also was making upgrades, branded as Cyrix.  Similar adapters were also made to work in 386s, including for QFP CPUs, where the adapter literally clipped on top of the existing CPU.

In 1996 Improve upgraded the upgrade.  The TI TX486SLCE was replaced by the improved (and also Cyrix based) TX486SXLC and clock doubled SXLC2.  These were virtually identical tot he SLCE except the cache was increased to 8KB and clock doubling was now supported.  Otherwise the processors were the same.  This of course, did not stop Improve Tech. from marketing it against ‘inferior’ adapters with only 1KB of ache (which ironically they had only just stopped making).  Upgrades were available for the 286 (SXLC) the 386SX (SXLC), 386DX (486SXL PGA) as well as early 486SX’s (using the 168 PGA or 144 pin QFP 486SXL)

In 1996 Improve also made available a 486DX4 upgrade for 486 system, this adapter used a Cyrix Cx486DX4-100 with 8KB of cache.  Also available was the Make-It 586 for $169 and featuring the Cyrix M1Sc 5×86 with 16KB of write through cache. This was the pinnacle of the Improve upgrades, and also the last.  By 1997 they had exited the upgrade market.  Other companies continued to make upgrades for a few years (including Intel), but the writing was on the all, it was clear that upgrade processors were quickly becoming unnecessary, replaced by the commodity PC.