Where can I get a 386 coprocessor?

[Shawn old account]

I would like to purchase a math coprocessor for an old AMD-386DX 40MHz computer I am setting up to be a router/gateway on my network. I can't seem to find the AMD math processor (AMD-387DX I think) that goes with this CPU. Where can I find one? Could I use an Intel 387 instead? Thanks for the help.

 

[Vinny N]

I was pretty sure you could use any...after all, weren't there other 387 units such as the Weitek?

 

[Shawn old account]

Is one better than another?

 

[Vinny N]

I would have no idea how to answer that

 

[zippy]

<< Where can I get a 386 coprocessor? >>


About 8 years ago is your best bet on where to find one. Heh, just kidding.

I have no idea- check with some local computer shops, maybe they have a few left over from the dark ages that they never sold.

 

[JACKHAMMER]

I doubt you will be able to find one....maybe used a hardware vendor.

 

[xtreme2k]

What is the use for a 387 for a ROUTER/GATEWAY?????

I dont think the 387 will ever be used.

 

[Shawn old account]

I was looking into the Linux Router Project and for the 386 I was forced to download a kernel with FPU emulation. I am trying to find a coprocessor because emulation is probably slower than the real thing. This computer needs all the help it can get.

 

[Shawn old account]

DP

 

[Mill]

Look for a computer salvage store online or in your area. Also look on pricewatch.

 

[MetalCat]

An antique store ?

 

[Maverick]

you may as well just get an old 486 for the amount of time you're gonna spend trying to find that part.

 

[Lord Evermore]

The FPU won't be used for anything just doing NAT/gateway stuff, so having FPU emulation enabled isn't likely to reduce the performance of the router at all.

 

[MadRat]

386 math-co's came in two forms, socket and stack, with each manufacturer using slight form factor changes that didn't often work with other manufacture's parts. You really need to find out the part number and the form factor to insure proper compatibility.

 

[Talon]

Ask in the For Sale/Trade forum. Someone might still have one kicking around.

 

[Bignate603]

i saw some company selling 486's for like $2 bucks a piece. The box you would put it in would be 20 times as much...

 

[dweezill]

I have one right beside me and I am going to put it to garbage soon

If you want you can come and get It but Montreal Canada may be a little far....

 

[Shawn old account]

Thanks for the offer. Is that the AMD-387DX for the 40MHz chip, or for another intel one? In looking on the web, it looks like the coprocessor must match the CPU.

 

[dszd0g]

Shawn I am sure if you attend some sort of geek meeting in your area someone will have a 486 or early Pentium motherboard and CPU lying around. I have two somewhere. It really isn't worth your time spent on a 386. I honestly wouldn't settle for anything less than a Pentium for a worthless computer. The P90 was very popular and lots of people I know have them sitting in their garage. The shipping on them isn't worth it so I would find someone near by who you can swing by their house and grab it from them. I know people who have to regularly let people clean their garages of old computer hardware for them.

The reason I wouldn't go with a pre-Pentium is almost all LInux distributions and anything precompiled is going to be compiled for 486 at a miminum, generally Pentium. It really is not worth your time to recompile everything for a 386.

 

[Cknyc]

Dont the DX chips already have the math coprocessor built in them? I thought only the SX chips required a math coprocessor.

 

[PCAddict]

In the 386 platform, SX vs DX has to do with the data pipeline. In 486's, it has to do with the presence/absence of an FPU unit.

 

[xtreme2k]

386SX - 16bit
386DX - 32bit

486SX - NO FPU
486DX - FPU

the DX/SX means different things in 386/486

 

[Sunner]

I wonder if its true that the internal(at Intel that is) meaning of &quot;SX&quot; was &quot;Sucks&quot;.

Oh and LE is correct, the CPU wont be doing much, if any FPU work doing just routing/NATing.

 

[highwire]

Again. Your need for a math coprocessor in that application is obscure. If the app has no fp instructions (most likely) the coprocessor will have NO effect, not even a little.

I believe a 80387 is a 80387. If it will plug, it will play. AMD was a second source licensee for Intel stuff way back then. They were kissin' cousins and the parts were generally interchangeable. Weitek might have been different though.

BTW. the going price for a math coprocessor was ~$100.

 

[johnny1111]

Try this place:

http://www.repc.com/